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The story of an hour analysis essay
Analyse the story of an hour
Women in 19th century compared to 21 century
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Women in the 1800s and 1900s have been oppressed by the stereotypes of what it is they are supposed to be. They are to marry young and have children with their husband. They are to take care of the young and perform household chores. They are supposed to love their spouse unconditionally. Kate Chopin challenges this view often in her writing. One of her short stories, “The Story of an Hour” sends a message that women should seek individuality as much as men through her use of rhetorical devices.
“The Story of an Hour” begins with an introduction of Mrs. Mallard who has heart troubles. It is discovered that her husband has been killed in an accident. When her sister, Josephine, tells her of the news, she weeps with “wild abandonment” rather
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than being paralyzed as other women who receive the news of a loved one’s passing may react (Chopin 123). This imagery details her difference from the other women in society. Because her reaction is opposite of what would be expected, speculation arises as to whether or not Mrs. Mallard loves her husband as a wife should. Soon enough, Mrs.
Mallard comes to the realization herself that life would be more pleasant now that she is a widowed individual. She may now “live for herself” rather than a falsified housewife (Chopin 124). Imagery once again proves helpful in interpreting Chopin’s theme. Just as when she was crying wildly, Mrs. Mallard’s “bosom [rises] and [falls] tumultuously” as she begins to realize the magnitude of her situation (Chopin 124). Societal code tells her that she should not take joy in the death of her husband, but she cannot hold it back any longer. Chopin compares Mrs. Mallard’s lack of command of her own emotions to the absence of control she has over her actions and body by stating that she was “as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been” (Chopin 124). This simile represents the accepted male versus female roles in society: males have authority and power while women must follow their …show more content…
husbands. Chopin, however, argues with the accepted theory, saying that women deserve to be individuals just as much as men do.
As she begins to accept the fact that her husband has died, she become increasingly elated. She contemplates her love for her husband, but thinks better of it. Chopin writes “What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!” in reference to Mrs. Mallard’s lack of affection for her husband (Chopin 124). This symbol of love helps to further Chopin’s argument because it represents an unsolved mystery. Love is seen as a typical matter for a marriage, but many individuals did not think of the complete picture years down the road where they may lose the affection that was initially there. Additionally, with the loss of adoration may come the rise to gender stereotypes that Chopin tries to dispel in the short story. As the couple grows together, they will fall into the balance that has been set before them as a married couple with the woman being a care taker for the children while the male provides for the family. Mrs. Mallard no longer has love for her husband and has therefore become an independent woman although she did not recognize it until he was
killed. The final three paragraphs of the story create a quick turn of events. Brently Mallard arrives back home, alive, not having heard of the accident. Josephine is elated that her sister’s husband has returned home, but Mrs. Mallard does not react in the same way; she dies. Chopin writes, “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy that kills” as a way of authorizing Mrs. Mallard’s death (Chopin 125). The beginning of the story had begun stating that the woman had heart troubles which by the end, the town concludes that she has died from because she is elated that her husband has returned home. This final statement is ironic because society believed that Mrs. Mallard loves her husband very much and would therefore be excited that he has not perished. Because it is known that she wishes for her independence, spectators realize that she has not died because of overjoy, rather she passes away because she cannot be independent. The irony in this statement helps perpetuate the gender rules that society has placed on women; Mrs. Mallard is not happy in the returning of her husband as she should be according to the community. Kate Chopin’s overall message contained in the short story, “The Story of an Hour,” is that women desire to be independent just as men do. This is shown through the rhetorical strategies such as imagery, simile, and irony that are present throughout the work. Her use of these devices allows for a deeper understanding and different interpretations of the reactions of the characters, specifically Mrs. Mallard. Chopin’s creative piece serves to highlight the social injustices and specific rules of women just as clearly as many of her other pieces.
In the short story, “The Story of An Hour”, written by Kate Choppin, a woman with a heart trouble is told her husband had passed away in a railroad disaster. Mrs. Mallard was depressed, then she came to a realization that she was free. Back in the day this story was written, women did not have many rights. They were overruled by their husband. As she became more aware of how many doors her husband death would open, she had passed away. The doctors had said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills. The irony in the situation was that as she was dying, her husband walked through the door, alive.
Chopin shows that some social pressures and responsibilities can in fact hold one back from their own potential as was Mrs. Mallard. Marriage was introduced as one of these social expectations, and Mrs. Mallard’s internal conflict shows the reader that sometimes it is hard to question these normalities. By creating such an internal visual of Mrs. Mallard, Chopin provides a tale of the true importance of seeing past socialistic deception, and choosing to find happiness beyond
Mrs. Mallard is the example of a typical housewife of the mid 1800’s. At the time, most women were not allowed to go to school and were usually anticipated to marry and do housework. During that time, the only way women could get out of a marriage was if they were to die or their husbands was to die. In that time period, the husband had control of all of the money, so it would not be wise if the wife were to leave the financial freedom that was provided by the husband. This is most likely why Mrs. Mallard never leaves her husband’s death, she is sad at first but then experiences an overwhelming sense of joy. This shows that she is not in a fulfilling marriage as his death means she will finally have own individual freedom, as well as financial freedom being the grieving widow who will inherit her husband’s wealth. In the words of Lawrence I. Berkove he states, “On the other hand, Chopin did not regard marriage as a state of pure and unbroken bliss, but on the other, she could not intelligently believe that it was desirable, healthy, or even possible for anyone to live as Louise, in the grip of her feverish delusion, wishes: to be absolutely free and to live totally and solely for oneself.” (3) Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s death is Chopin’s way of expressin...
Chopin depicts marriage as a prison institution that confines women to life. In the story, there is no possibility of divorce and death seems to be the only way out. Evidently, since marriage is dictated by society, women do not seem bothered by their lack of freedom since they feel it is their obligation to run their homes without complaining. From the story, Mrs. Mallard does not seem perturbed by her present situation until she gets a taste of freedom after receiving the news about her husband's death. Precisely, we are told that she was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will--as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been.
Chopin reflects her rejection of the “postures of femininity” through her character’s descriptions. She describes her as “young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression.” Describing her as young and calm are what men looked for in a wife in the 19th century. They wanted a submissive woman to tend to their needs as Chopin’s description suggests. Furthermore, Chopin says of her character Mrs. Mallard, “she would live for herself.” Her character believes she will now be free of her marriage, and won’t be “repressed” as aforementioned any longer by her husband. Wives had a natural servitude towards their husbands as husbands worked and went about their lives. All in all, Chopin displays her character as having a joyous moment after the death of her husband because she is let go of being forced into her “femininity.”
Much of what Howard has to say about Chopin’s protagonists is appropriate. Her criticism operates from the standpoint that “marriage, said Chopin’s world, was the goal of every woman’s life; service to her husband and her children her duties, passionlessness and submission her assumed virtues, selflessness her daily practice, and self sacrifice her pleasure” (1). Mrs. Mallard definitely lives in a world where these gender values abound. Chopin, for example, describes Mrs. Mallard’s face as one “ whose lines bespoke repression” (439). This is obviously a direct reference to the submission Mrs. Mallard has had to yield up to the patriarchy thus far. She has always had a “powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature” (440). Her husband’s will is describ...
Written by Kate Chopin, the short story “The Story of an Hour” follows Louise Mallard, a woman from the nineteenth century who has just received the news that her husband, Brently Mallard, has passed away in a horrific train accident. Immediately Mrs. Mallard is overcome with grief and sorrow, but her mood quickly shifts when she realizes the independence and free-will she will now have. At the climax of her elation for the future, her husband walks through the door. Mrs. Mallard, shocked and speechless, dies of a heart attack. In the short story, "The Story of an Hour," author Kate Chopin utilizes symbolism, diction, and irony to emphasize the effects of Mrs. Mallard's newfound sense of freedom, and how that ultimately results in her death.
Mrs. Mallard's medical diagnosis is an example of the male-dominated society in which she lives. They are able to tell her that she indeed has a heart condition, but are unable to treat her effectively, portraying how ineffectual male patriarchy is in the life of this woman in particular. Mrs. Mallard is expected to fulfill the stereotypical role of "the angel in the house." She should acknowledge that the comforts in her life are all gifts from her husband, and should make it the primary goal of her life to please him in any way. As a dutiful wife, she must be content in serving and obeying her husband and children. On the other hand, there is the "madwoman in the attic" who breaks free from the constraints set upon women. This woman is seen as a "monster" and "sexually fallen" for simply desiring to have a life outside of her family (Bressler 178). Mrs. Mallard falls into both categories. Though she feels oppressed by her husband, she stills acts as the "angel," faithfully staying by his side despite her unhappiness. However, Chopin provides the reader with small indications of the "madwoman" even before Mrs. Mallard receives the news of her husband's death. The Mallards have no children, which signifies an unfruitful marriage. According to the same male-dominated medical society that is impotent in treating her heart condition, the failure to produce children would have fallen on Mrs. Mallard (Wald 2).
... This woman suffers a tremendous amount from the commitment of her marriage, and the death of her husband does not affect her for long. A marriage such as this seems so unbelievable, yet a reader can see the realistic elements incorporated into the story. This begs the question of how undesirable marriage was during Chopin’s life. The unhappiness felt by Mrs. Mallard seems to be very extreme, but Chopin creates a beautiful story that reflects upon the idea of marriage as an undesired relationship and bond to some women in the nineteenth century.
Carefully adopting this thinking, the reader can assume that her marriage is overbearing, equivalent or less to taking care of a child. The reader can also assume that less intimacy may be a red flag in the Mallard’s crumbling marriage. Although Chopin does not mention the husband’s needs, Mr. Mallard probably feels less masculine not having a child to protect and care for other than his wife who involuntarily may have upset her husband, deepening their relationship into a shallow
Mallard. Her self-assertion surpassed the years they were married and the love she had for him. She is beginning to realize she can now live for and focus on herself. The text insists “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature.” (Chopin 477.) Finally she can live freely and no longer worry about being confined in her marriage and inside her own home. She has come to realization that she is now independent and can think freely and achieves happiness and freedom. She is no longer held down or back by her marriage. She will no longer be someone’s possession she will be free and respected. Her husband Brently returns and he is alive the happiness and freedom she once possessed briefly with the mere image of her deceased husband were quickly torn away. “When the doctors came they said she died of heart disease of joy that kills” (Chopin 477). She was free but still confined without the knowledge of her husband who wasn’t dead. Chopin illustrates at the end that she was free because joy killed her. She was joyous because she was finally set free but she is now once again confined by the grief knowing her husband was not killed
Not attempting to hide, Mrs. Mallard knows that she will weep at her husbands funeral, however she can’t help this sudden feeling of seeing, “beyond [the] bitter moment [of] procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely” (Chopin, 16). In an unloving marriage of this time, women were trapped in their roles until they were freed by the death of their husbands. Although Mrs. Mallard claims that her husband was kind and loving, she can’t help the sudden spark of joy of her new freedom. This is her view on the release of her oppression from her roles of being a dutiful wife to her husband. Altogether, Mrs. Mallard claims that, “there would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature” (Chopin, 16). This is the most important of Mrs. Mallard’s thoughts, as she never officially states a specific way when her husband oppressed her. However, the audience can clearly suggest that this is a hint towards marriage in general that it suffocates both men and women. Marriage is an equal partnership in which compromise and communication become the dominant ideals to make the marriage better. It is suggested that Mrs. Mallard also oppressed her husband just as much as he did to her when she sinks into the armchair and is, “pressed down by a physical exhaustion
In “The Story of an Hour”, Mrs. Mallard is delighted when she is presented with a chance to take back her lost sense of identity after she receives news of her husband's death. Mrs. Mallard suffers from heart problems; therefore, her sister tries to break the terrible news in a gentle way. After taking in the news of her husband’s death, she slowly awakens to a reality that she would live for herself. There would
Life for a female in the nineteenth century was one of repression of individuality. Once married a woman became legally bound to her husband in a circumstance much like property. Kate Chopin experienced how it felt to be restricted strictly based on her gender. In “The Story of an Hour,” Chopin encapsulates a theme of confinement, freedom, and powerlessness. Kate depicts the confinement of the late nineteenth century.
Chopin, the author of “The Story of an Hour”, uses many objects to embodies the recurring idea of a woman desires of freedom; portrays by Mrs. Mallard’s. Mrs. Mallard is a dutiful, typical housewife; like any other women in her years, she longs for some freedom in her life. At first, the thought of her husband’s death appalled her. However, did not take Mrs. Mallard very long to realize that her life without Mr. Mallard is an advantage for her. Mrs. Mallard immediately isolates herself in her room, when she discovers Mr. Mallard’s death.