Story Of An Hour Language Analysis

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In the short story of "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, it opens on the news that Mrs. Mallard's husband, Brently Mallard, had died in a railroad accident: "Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death" (Chopin 1). Not much about the protagonist is known except that she has heart trouble. The tone of hesitation and sadness in the story is set within the first sentence along with an uneasiness about Mrs. Mallard's condition. Mrs. Mallard's sister, Josephine is afraid to break the news and it helps establish a curiosity in the reader as to just how unstable she might be. Mrs. Mallard and her sister are in their house when Josephine breaks the news to her: "It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing" (Chopin 1). The repetition of word that all mean relatively the same thing. Some words that show the concern of her sister's ability to handle the news include "broken", "veiled" and "half concealing". All these words suggest that she wants to hide the truth. She is worried that Mrs. Mallard will have difficulty accepting what has happened. This is, in fact, not a problem …show more content…

Mallard heres the news, she reacts quite normally for a newly made widow. When she heres the news, "She wept at once, with sudden, wild, abandonment, in her sister's arms"(Chopin 1). The diction used to describe her "sudden, wild, abandonment" suggests that she is overwhelmed in her feelings of grief. Mrs. Mallard is understandably upset. This sets the tone of sadness and pity for Mrs. Mallard. When she recovers however she locks herself away: "When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her" (Chopin 1). This sets a tone of mystery and makes one curious as to what her next move might be. She is off on her own now to feel her emotions

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