How Does Kate Chopin Use Feminism In The Story Of An Hour

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Feminism is a major part of “The story of an hour” by Kate Chopin. The story takes place in the 1800s when women had little freedom, no rights and had to cater to their husbands every demand. Mrs. Louise Mallard the main character is a young woman with a heart condition, her husband Mr. Brently Mallard a sales man. In this story we see how Kate Chopin uses Louise’s’ heart condition to symbolize how she felt trapped in her marriage and the freedom she felt after hearing the news of her husband’s death.
When Louise hears of her husband’s death she becomes emotional and locks herself away in her room. While her family believes that she is grieving her husband’s death, Louise is actually celebrating her freedom. “she had thought with a shudder that life might be long.” She now “saw a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she …show more content…

We also see that her heart starts beating strongly. A sign that is was her marriage making her sick. During the 1800s males dominated and were the superior gender in society. Women’s rights did not exist and divorces were frowned upon. If one was to divorce everything was given to the men. A women’s only hope of freedom in the 1800s was the death of her husband.
Louise feels free from the obligations placed on her by society and her husband. “There would be no one to live for during those coming years. She would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature.”
There was also never mention of a child in the story, so not only is Louise free from her husband but free from any and all obligations as a woman. With Mrs. Mallards new freedom. She could have her own identity and independence. She could live her life the way she wanted without having to answer to

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