The Story Of An Hour

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The story of an hour "The story of an hour" has many themes, but mostly shows one main theme, which is dysfunctional marriage. Women in the 19th century were prisoners of their husbands. Life was male dominated. Women were expected to stay at home to cook and raise the children. Not many women had jobs at that time, and even the ones who did, they were paid salaries less than men were. This short story is about the main character Mrs. Mallard who has a heart problem, who got the bad news from her sister Josephine of her husband's death in a railroad disaster. Her husband's friend Richard was also with them. They brought her the news gently because they were concerned it might put her in danger because of her heart problem. Mrs. Mallard started crying at once, went upstairs, and locked her self in her room. Ironically, she started feeling happy and free. She felt free from the depressing life she was living, she didn't have to live for anyone else but herself now. As Josephine when up to her and took her downstairs, the door was opened and surprisingly Mr. Mallard stood there. He was far away from the accident and did not know anything about it. Richard tried to hide the scene of Mrs. Mallard. When the doctors arrived they said that she had died of her heart disease, from the "joy that kills". The title of the story is referred to that everything happened within only one hour, she felt happy and free, thought of the life ahead of her, and died all in an hour. The setting is in the 19th century, which is important to the theme of the story, because at that time women were controlled by their husbands. Marriage was more about monetary comfort, social status and acceptance. It wasn't about love. Few characters were mentioned in the story, Mrs. Mallard, her sister Josephine, Richard the husband's friend, and Mr. Mallard. The main character is Mrs. Mallard. The first sentence of the story, it is mentioned that Mrs. Mallard has a heart problem, and that is foreshadowing indicating that it will affect the outcome of the story, that something wrong will happen. Her sister Josephine breaks the news to her in "veiled hints" and gently, caring and cautious knowing that she has a troubled heart. Mrs. Mallard broke down crying and went upstairs to her room, and "would have no one follow her".

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    The Story of an Hour is a short story of Ms. Mallard, a woman with a heart condition who receives short term good news. Chopin uses contrast between independence, marriage, and gender to show how hidden emotions can effect a woman’s actions in the time period where women did not have much power or right to speak what came to their mind.

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