How Is Mrs Mallard A Sympathetic Character

Firstly, I read my father the short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin. After he read the story, I asked him what he thought on whether or not she is a sympathetic character. My dad responded with a huge no claiming that she was a very selfish character. He said that although it was a male dominated society back in her time period, no one should be happy with the death of one of their family members; especially her husband. Furthermore, he claimed that any woman would be heartbroken and have a paralyzed fear to accept its significance. Also, he pointed out that she would now have nothing left with her. Society in her day was very male dominated and it was the males that brought home money for the family, not females. She may not be heartbroken to hear the news of her husband’s death, but she should have showed emotion on acknowledging the fact that her life will take a turn for the negative.

Next, I read the same story to my mother.

After she read the story, she said that the reader can definitely have some sympathy for Mrs. Mallard. She claimed that Mrs. Mallard was probably very tired of having to take care of her husband all the time and her not being able to do anything else. My mother said that now that her husband was dead, she will be able to continue on with her life freely without having to worry about anything else. She said that it is often the case back home in India, where she is from. In India, women often do not hold jobs and are instead housewives tending to their husbands. However, she did point out that Mrs. Mallard would have likely gotten remarried as she cannot earn money because of her status as a

woman.

A case could be made for either argument as they are both supported very well with evidence. The gender of a reader plays a massive role in the feelings of sympathy they may have for Mrs. Mallard. Females, especially feminists, are likely to have some sympathy for Mrs. Mallard. Also, the society and culture in which they live in today is likely to factor in the decision to feel sympathy for Mrs. Mallard. For example, women living in male dominated Muslim countries are likely to feel sympathy for Mrs. Mallard as they know how much a husband can control them in a society like theirs. Age likely does not affect largely affect a reader’s perception other than if really small children read the story as society and culture impact an individual’s decisions more than age. Religion and race also play a huge role in the reader feeling sympathetic as they are both related to society and culture in the part of the world they live in so yes it does matter.