Male Dominance in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

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Male Dominance in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

Male dominance over ones wife was a common practice in previous eras. A husband considered the women's thoughts invalid or unnecessary. The result of this inferiority was often a struggle for sanity. Every thought or action portrayed by the female gender was illegitimate. This inferiority caused an intolerable environment often leading to the unleashing of a woman's freedom whenever possible. This act was away from the confines of her husband as almost defiance towards him. In the short story, "The Story of an Hour", by Kate Chopin; this old-fashioned belief and resulting effects are brought to light. Most ladies did evidently not welcome the dominance that presided over the female race.

The life that Louise Mallard leads is one of the afore mentioned conditions. The toll it takes on her is shown in her "fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression." (11). It is after the friend of the family broke "to her as gently as possible the news of her husbands death" (10) and she has time to contemplate that she realizes she is no longer under domination. This newfound life for Louise is in time "with the new spring life" (11). As spring is born, a new opportunity has come available for Mrs. Mallard; A chance to renew herself and pursue her freedom

The very thought of this escape leaves Louise unsure of herself at first and gives her a "paralysed inability to accept its significance" (11). The "intelligent thought" (11) that enters Louise's mind is "too subtle and elusive to name" (11). As she sits at the window, "patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds" (11) are present. This shine of light represents her first realization that she will be "free, free, free!" (11) She understands the "long procession of the years to come that would belong to her absolutely" (11) and the "look of terror….went from her eyes" (11).

Louise would now "live for herself" (11). The joy this realization instilled in her was like "drinking in a very elixir of life through that window" (11). Her confusion of her love for Brentley and the newfound freedom "which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being" (12) bothered her, but eventually she concludes, "she would weep again" (12) but now would pick up like a new season and move forward.

As Mrs.

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