Story Of An Hour As A Naturalist Essay

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Mary Wollstonecraft once said, “I do not wish [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.” Naturalists and Realists focus heavily on issues in society, and their literature of discontent reflects their desire for change in society. In this depiction of Realistic and Naturalistic beliefs, Mrs. Mallard, a married woman, realizes her burning desire for freedom after her husband is thought to have died in a railroad accident. Throughout the short story, “The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin, Mrs. Mallard’s sudden longing for freedom and her ultimate dismay with her husband’s miraculous return exemplify Chopin’s dissatisfaction with women’s limited freedom in marriage, relationships, and life in general.
Mrs. Mallard’s sullen, yearning physical description depicts her prior lack of freedom, as it contrasts with the unfamiliar, alluring scenery and images that she experiences after her husband’s supposed death. Mrs. Mallard, although young, is depicted as a woman “whose lines bespoke repression” (Chopin). It is …show more content…

Mallard’s excitement towards her recent discovery of her deeply embedded desire for freedom accentuates the importance of women’s freedom in society. During the 1890’s, the time period in which this piece was written, most women experienced limited amounts of freedom in their lives, as they were bound to their husbands and other loved ones, and many of them were never truly able to extinguish their inner flame to pursue their dreams and live an unconstricted life. Luckily, today, many women are exceptionally independent, and very few struggle to realize their desire to live freely. Throughout the short story, “The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin, Mrs. Murray’s unhappiness towards her husband’s return and her realization for her longing for freedom exhibit Chopin’s desire to change women’s limited freedom in their relationships and general lives. As Tennessee Williams wisely noted, “Caged birds accept each other, but flight is what they long

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