Louise Mallard Symbolism

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The symbolism shown in the short story “The Story Of An Hour” by Kate Chopin, serves to further develop the theme of the forbidden joy of independence. Louise Mallard can only experience the true freedom alone after the realization that oddly enlivens her, the death of her husband.

Mrs. Mallard’s condition further develops this theme by showing a more meaninful symbol, the heart. Out of all the potencial illnesses the author chooses this condition of “heart trouble” to reinforce the meaning of it. Since the death of Mr. Mallard causes a sense of freedom within, the reader can expand on the idea that the marriage had some kinds of “trouble”. Having that in mind make it easier for her to dismiss the concept of love with the statement “What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!” suggesting that even if Mrs. Mallard did not have her heart condition, she would still have the “heart trouble” of emotional kind with her marriage, unhappiness, and lack of freedom. …show more content…

The opened window that Mrs. Mallard looks out from her room after recieving the dreadful news is a symbol of a new life, or what can be previewed as her future. “There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully…But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air.” The clear view from the window shows a bright view symbolizing the new unobstructed life Louise is about to get, it is therefore no coincidence how when she turns from the window she is quck to loose her freedom again. The forbidden joy dissapears as quickly as it came, in a matter of less than an hour, but the taste that came with disappointment is enough to kill

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