Kate Chopin's Short Story Of An Hour

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To summarize the short story by Kate Chopin, Louise Mallard, who suffers from heart trouble, has just been given the news of her husbands’ death in a railroad accident. At first she is overcome with grief, and sobs at Mr. Mallard’s death. Meanwhile, a questionable and curious emotion begins to stir within her. Suddenly, Mrs. Mallard is overcome with happiness with the realization that she is now free from the oppression of her husband. Although she did love him, she loved her newfound independence even more. Just when she has come to terms with her husbands’ death and her freedom, in walks Brently Mallard himself, unharmed, and alive as can be. The story quickly comes to a close when it is found out that Louise Mallard died of a heart attack. The doctors’ had said the happiness from seeing her husband alive had killed her, but I feel that it was the …show more content…

Throughout the story, women are treated as glass figurines that at any moment will burst out in tears from the weight of the situation. I feel that since the author of the story was a woman, she was purposefully bringing attention to the way woman were treated. For example, when her sister and husbands’ friend broke the news to her like she was gonna shatter into a million pieces. They treated her like she was stupid, and not a grown adult. Another instance of women being treated unjustly was when her sister Josephine begged her to come out of her room like she was a child throwing a tantrum. It is astounding how different men and women are treated in this short piece of literature. Men are seen as the dominant caretakers that women would be lost without. Whereas women are portrayed as emotional, unstable creatures that are 100% dependent on men. It is plain to see in this tale, how society viewed the different genders during this time

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