Story Of An Hour Symbolism Essay

In the short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, symbolism is an important feature in the development of the characters and the advancement of the plot. Since this story was rather short, Chopin relied heavily on symbolism to add depth the story. Of the symbols in the story the most notable one is the heart. The heart is an essential part of the human body. It is responsible for keeping the rest of the body functioning. And just as the heart is a vital part of life, it is also a vital part of this story.
The first mention of the heart comes in the very first sentence. As Josephine breaks the news to the Mrs. Mallard about Mr. Mallard’s death, Josephine must do so with “great care” due to Mrs. Mallard’s documented heart problems (Chopin,

476). In most stories, nothing is by accident and this one is no different. The fact that this idea was mentioned in the first line indicates its importance to the story. While initially the importance was not apparent, as the story progresses, its importance becomes relevant not only on the basic level in the story but on a deeper level as well. In the simplest analyzation of the heart in the story, it seems that its only significance is as a character description, which helps to further advance the plot. In the beginning, Josephine and Richards are worried about breaking the news to Louise due to her condition. And later Josephine is worried that Louise will have a heart attack brought about by the devastation of losing her husband and demand Mrs. Mallard to open the door to enjoy her company.
The heart has long been a symbol of love and passion and this idea holds true in this short story.

Not only are Mrs. Mallard’s heart problems a physical hinder on her health, but the heart troubles expand to the emotional level. For the most part, she loved her husband. However, their marriage has taken a toll on her. After the news of her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard’s heart is torn. She is devastated about the death of her husband but enlightened by the idea of being independent and free. As the idea of being free entered her mind the heart once again becomes the focal point of the story. After Louise continually repeats the word “free” to herself, “Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body”, expressing her desire to be independent (Chopin, 477). When someone experiences great joy it is said that they experience the warming of the heart. As soon as Mrs. Mallard thought about her newfound independence she was overcome by this warm sensation. Her heart was pumping wildly and any pain she was suffering from the loss of her husband, dissipated. Her problematic heart was now at full strength and she was relieved of any worry she once had. While her physical heart still posed a threat, she was free from her emotional

difficulties.
The heart and the heart problems can also stand for so much more. On a larger scale, this idea can be applied to society. Family is considered to be the heart of society, and the basic building block of a family is the bond between husband and wife. Mrs. Mallard’s heart problems are symbolic of the complications she is having with her marriage. She loves her husband and cares deeply for him, but cannot help but feel oppressed and suffocated by him. During the story, Mrs. Mallard thinks to herself about her freedom from the servitude of marriage and Chopin writes, “There will be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have the right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature” (Chopin, 477). Mrs. Mallard is not only thinking about herself but about how others in society behave as well. Women in late 19th century society were subjected to the will of their husbands. A woman was expected to get married at a young age and was expected to provide her husband with a happy home. Just as other women of the time, Mrs. Mallard could not help but feel suffocated by her husband and she notes, “a kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime” (Chopin, 477). This is significant because it expresses her true feelings about her husband. Whether he was acting out of kindness or hatred it made no difference to her, all seemed tyrannical.
Lastly, the most significant symbol the heart stands for is a key. Her heart is ultimately the key to her freedom. At the end of the story, when Bernard walks through the door, very much alive, and Louise sees him, she dies of “heart disease---of joy that kills” (Chopin, 477). It is only in death that Mrs. Mallard is truly free. While the other characters believe that she is overcome with grief and then seeing her husband alive caused her so much joy she had a heart attack, the reader knows it is actually the complete opposite. She is in shock of seeing her husband, but it is the anguish of his presence and the reclaiming of her newfound freedom that causes her to die. However, her death is still joyous. It is joyous because she is able to obtain the freedom she longs for without having her true feelings revealed. She passed away as a loving, respectful wife who remained committed to her husband and her duties as a housekeeper. In a way, this is better for her than living under her husband’s oppression or living as a widower because she obtained the ultimate freedom. It is ironic that the issue that seemed to be the biggest threat at the beginning of the story turns out to be the characters biggest blessing. While it wasn’t how she originally thought or expected, Mrs. Mallard’s heart is what ultimately allows her to obtain her deepest desire…freedom.
Mrs. Mallard’s heart in “The Story of an Hour” was a very important component of the story. Not only was the heart a reoccurring issue for the main character, but her heart stood for so much more. The heart represented her emotional conflict and the problems with marriage in 19th century society; it was symbolic of the key to Mrs. Mallard’s freedom. In the relatively quick short story, the symbols associated with heart added depth to the story and continuously made the reader draw connections from Mrs. Mallard’s heart to the world.