Comparing the Use of Images in The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour

Comparing the Use of Images in The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour

The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour are two short stories both

seemingly similar and contrasting in different ways. In Chopin’s story

we see that Louise Mallard reveals her ironically natural feeling of

joy and freedom following the news of her husband’s death. Louise’s

sensation of freedom is conveyed through the use of vivid natural

images and color. While in Colette’s story the two female protagonists

contrastingly suffer from repression while the other practices freedom

and liberty. These contrasting feelings are conveyed by the usage of

various color images. Both Chopin and Colette address the theme of

freedom and liberty from male control through the indirect use of

natural, color, and vivid imagery. More often, the natural images are

associated with the setting and the atmosphere, while color imagery is

repeatedly linked to the physical appearance of the characters.

In The Story of an Hour Chopin’s use of natural images develop and

convey the theme of female freedom and liberty. The image of window is

one of the most fundamental symbols which puts across this theme. The

window exemplifies the ‘monstrous joy’ and the ironically natural

freedom Louise is feeling in her following the news of her husband’s

death. This oxymoron can be defined as the feeling she knows is

considered ‘monstrous’ by society who does not expect her to be glad

at her husband’s death. The way in which she faces the ‘open window’

reveals the new beginning she is looking forward to and her

realization of a fresh start without her husband. Furthermore, the

author’s application of an image of a ‘tree’ that were ‘aquiver’ and

the ‘countless sparrows’ whic...

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...n Chopin’s The Story of an Hour there is less work for

the readers’ to work out specific hidden meanings. It is much harder

to work out meanings when Alice doesn’t answer when Marc says 'were

satisfied…Aren’t we, darling?’

Throughout the course of the two stories The Other Wife and The Story

of an Hour, the use of natural, color, and vivid images are an

essential tool for both authors to convey the theme of freedom and

liberty from male control. The use of the various types of imagery

shows the similar techniques Colette and Chopin shared. However, there

are some minor differences these two stories shared, such as the use

of dialogues and narratives as well as one being more symbolic than

the other. The use of imagery is just a very small part of all the

other features the writers used to develop the theme of female Freedom

& Rights from male control.