Symbolism In The Story Of An Hour

741 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The role of the nineteenth-century female in literature

When people think of marriage the first though that may come to mind is the concept of love. The idea that a new life will begin for that happy coupe; a life full of love, compassion, affection, and joy. The union or marriage between two people is supposed to signify the commitment of always being there for one another; through the ups and downs. In this piece of literature Kate Chopin contradicts this theory. “The Story of an Hour” proves that is a great piece of literature for its amazing theme, the author’s use of symbolisms, and its use of irony.
To begin with, the protagonist of the story, Mrs. Mallard, helps us understand the life woman had to live in the 1890’s. In those specific years, between the late 1800’s and the early 1900,s woman …show more content…

Mallard realizes the shocking truth of her husband. At the beginning of the story we discover that Mrs. Mallard suffers from a heart condition when Richard and her sister try to deliver the news with caution; in addition, this indicates that Mrs. Mallard is also very fragile. Moreover, these hold ironies because of her unhappiness in her own marriage; the heart meaning her love for her husband, and the trouble indicating her struggle in her marriage. In “The Story of an Hour” Kate Chopin states, “…she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills.” When Mrs. Mallard heard the news of her husband sudden death we realized that her true feeling were joyful and in a way relieved. Already feeling overwhelmed with her new found freedom, Mrs. Mallard receives another shocking discovery by seeing that her husband was actually alive. This caused her to have a heart attack. When she died her family could’ve presumed she died of happiness for the sudden revelation of her husband return, when in reality her happiness was taken away from her as soon as Mr. Mallard walked through the door. The surprising ending and the irony gave the story a feeling of meaning and understanding of what really was going on in Mrs. Mallards

Show More
Related

  • Wives in Silko's Yellow Woman and Chopin's The Story of an Hour

    441 Words  | 1 Pages

    Mrs. Mallard in 'The story of an hour', is a woman that has had to live her life composed and in control as the wife of her husband, Brently Mallard. Chopin details Mrs. Mallard's reaction to the news of her husband's death with convolted emotions that were considered appropraite and yet horrifying to the reader. At the end of the story, her death came as no surprise.

    Read More

  • Unveiling Mrs. Mallard's Paradox: Freedom in Death

    1407 Words  | 3 Pages

    Like in many tragically true stories, it would seem Mrs. Mallard 's freedom came too late. Kate Chopin’s, “The Story of an Hour” begins by introducing Mrs. Mallard as a person afflicted with heart trouble. The story builds on this by having Mrs. Mallard’s sister Josephine and her husband Richard explain the situation in a very sensitive manner. Their efforts would prove to be in vain however as Mrs. Mallard then proceeds to emotionally break down. The news shocks Mrs. Mallard to her very core and has her at odds with how she should feel now that all was said and done. After coming to terms with her situation, fate delivers its final blow in a cruel and deceitful ploy towards Mrs. Mallards. And with that, Mrs. Mallard 's dies. In her hour of change Mrs. Mallard 's was delicate, thoughtful and excitable.

    Read More

  • Symbolism and Irony in “The Story of an Hour”

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mostly on every story, a person, place, or even an object can be described or represented more than what it actually really is. It’s just trying explain more than what the author is trying to get across the story, but it also makes you think twice about what it’s trying to say to show through the main idea. There is all sorts of symbols like the multiply sign is used to show that they double the number of what they’re trying to solve. Colors may also be used to show symbolism like they can make you label certain things and it symbolizes the object you labeled with the color.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis of Mrs. Mallard in The Story of an Hour

    1047 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the short story, “The Story of an Hour,” author Kate Chopin presents the character of Mrs. Louis Mallard. She is an unhappy woman trapped in her discontented marriage. Unable to assert herself or extricate herself from the relationship, she endures it. The news of the presumed death of her husband comes as a great relief to her, and for a brief moment she experiences the joys of a liberated life from the repressed relationship with her husband. The relief, however, is short lived. The shock of seeing him alive is too much for her bear and she dies. The meaning of life and death take on opposite meaning for Mrs. Mallard in her marriage because she lacked the courage to stand up for herself.

    Read More

  • The Story of an Hour: Sixty Minutes of Freedom

    657 Words  | 2 Pages

    “To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.”(Lao Tzu). In Kate Chopin’s, “The Story of an Hour”, it tells of a heart trouble married woman, Louise Mallard, who learns that the man she loved and married, Brently has died. Mrs. Mallard’s behavior and emotions have shocked her entire family as she finds it a joyful and powerful event that may change her life for the hour that she has remaining to live. Mrs. Mallard considers his death as a freedom that she has yet longed for over so many years. As many readers begin to express their judgment towards Mrs. Mallard, the aspects of personal relationship may seem to convince those that maybe she was a bit selfish with her response. In the agony of a bitter marriage, “The Story of an Hour” portrays the reality of being in love, being married and finally having female independence.

    Read More

  • Symbolism in “The Story of an Hour”

    662 Words  | 2 Pages

    The symbols and imagery used by Kate Chopin's in “The Story of an Hour” give the reader a sense of Mrs. Mallard’s new life appearing before her through her view of an “open window” (para. 4). Louise Mallard experiences what most individuals long for throughout their lives; freedom and happiness. By spending an hour in a “comfortable, roomy armchair” (para.4) in front of an open window, she undergoes a transformation that makes her understand the importance of her freedom. The author's use of Spring time imagery also creates a sense of renewal that captures the author's idea that Mrs. Mallard was set free after the news of her husband's death.

    Read More

  • Symbolism & Irony in the “The Story of an Hour”

    604 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Story of an Hour Mrs. Is trapped in her marriage, but through her perspective, Mrs. Mallard is then informed that her husband died and then returns to her room as she enjoys her freedom. As her husband returns she comes down stairs, she sees him and then falls to her death, everyone thought she died of joy of seeing Mr. Mallard alive, even the doctor’s thought she died from the joy that kills.

    Read More

  • Marriage And A Woman's Role In The 1800s

    659 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”, it talks about marriage and a woman’s life in the 1800’s. This story illustrates the stifling nature of a woman’s role during this time through Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s death. When Mrs. Mallard obtains news that her husband is dead, she is hurt after a brief moment and then she is delighted with the thought of freedom. This story shows how life was in the mid 1800’s and how women were treated around that time.

    Read More

  • The Story of An Hour Theme

    387 Words  | 1 Pages

    Kate Chopin wrote a short piece called “The Story of an Hour” about a woman’s dynamic emotional shift who believes she has just learned her husband has died. The theme of Chopin’s piece is essentially a longing for more freedom for women.

    Read More

  • Ms. Mallard's Condition In The Story Of An Hour

    872 Words  | 2 Pages

    The leading cause of death in the world today is heart disease. There are no exceptions in “The Story of an Hour”. Death came quickly to Ms. Mallard, she was gone in a matter of pages. Even though Mrs. Mallard dies from a heart condition, Kate Chopin uses "the story of an hour” to cause spouses to evaluate their relationships because she was never really happy and loses her life from emotional trauma rather than physical.

    Read More

  • Symbolism in The Story of an Hour

    369 Words  | 1 Pages

    Several symbols in Kate Chopin's "Story of an Hour" create a feeling of comfort, wellness, and wonderfulness within the reader's mind. The first symbol I will speak of is the "comfortable chair" which she sinks into after the news of her husbands' death. Then, I will speak of the open window, which she sits in front of through which she sees many symbols of things that are good. Finally, I will speak of the description of Mrs. Mallard herself and her comfortable situation, which will tie together all the symbols that create the feelings of comfort and wellness in the reader.

    Read More

  • The Story Of An Hour

    1046 Words  | 3 Pages

    The number of marriages that end in divorce in America is one out of every five; the number of marriages that end in death is about eight hundred thousand per year. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” is the tale of a married woman who finds herself on an emotional rollercoaster after learning that her husband was killed in a train accident, only to have him walk through the door within the hour. At first, she mourns the loss of her husband. However, as she realizes the breadth of the freedom she now possesses, this sadness soon transforms into joy, and she emerges from her upstairs bedroom a changed woman. Then, when her husband unexpectedly walks through the front door, she is all at once overcome with a sense of grief, and she collapses on the foyer floor, unable to bear the thought of returning to her marriage. Chopin, a controversial author, explores the negative side of the construct of marriage. Maintaining one’s independence can, in fact, strengthen a marriage, by promoting equality within the marriage, bolstering one’s

    Read More

  • Comparing Story Of An Hour And Gail Godwin's A Sorrowful Woman

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mallard in “The Story of an Hour” is a victim of a failed marriage and its disappointments, very similarly to the woman in “A Sorrowful Woman”. While marriage is associated with endless happiness, it’s amazing that Mrs. Mallard enjoys it in her marriage for just one hour. It’s important to note that Mrs. Mallard’s happiness reached its full peak when she was told of her husband's death. She showed empathy and grieved in presence of others around her after hearing the news, but her genuine emotions bursted after locking herself in the room. “No one recognizes her true emotions because women fall apart when their spouse dies; it’s required. Marriage is portrayed as a life sentence” (Sustana). Everything was colorful in her life once again, she didn’t have anyone to tell her she has to do certain things anymore, She looks forward to "years to come that would belong to her absolutely”(Chopin). Her short hour of happiness is quickly ruined by her husband yet again. Mr. Mallard appears alive and unharmed to only give an heart attack to poor Mrs.

    Read More

  • The Story of an Hour

    1193 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kate Chopin is able to illuminate her stories with clever language and meaning. As well as an immense criticism as to how society oppresses the individual in the glorified institution of marriage. Through language, she is able to introduce the thought of deeper meanings. “The Story of an Hour” being a prime example of the individual that has a need for freedom for herself. Through symbolism and straightforward comments, the freedom that Mrs. Louisa Mallard is notable just as her marriage is oppressive.

    Read More

  • Irony in Chopin's 'The Story of an Hour'

    804 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mallard’s feelings in her last sixty minutes. Firstly, her loved ones prepared to deliver mournful news to Mrs. Mallard. But, unlike most wives might have reacted, Mrs. Mallard found a bright light in the gloomy news. Although she found anxiousness, and what it is like to be “Free, free, free” (65) with her husband’s absence, his return brings her death. Secondly, Mrs. Mallard ponders out her window thinking just the opposite of what is expected of her. She awaits “summer days” (66) and “all sorts of days that would be her own.” (66). But, unfortunately Mrs. Mallard’s new life is cut short with the husband’s return. Ironically, a sudden heart attack is what killed Mrs. Mallard. Lastly, although Mrs. Mallard was living dead with her husband, in effect his absence gave her life. Chopin exceled at creating the unexpected tone for the reader. These are just a few central ironies in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate

    Read More

More about Symbolism In The Story Of An Hour

Open Document