'The Story Of An Hour' By Kate Chopin

642 Words2 Pages

“The Story of an Hour” was published in the nineteenth century by Kate Chopin. The story has very little background information, and contains minimal detail about characters, setting, and main events. The story stands as a basis for many themes due to its densely packed plot. However, despite its length, Chopin manages to keep readers interested using her distinct style of writing.

The story is about an eventful hour that results in the death of the main character-- Mrs. Mallard. A family friend of the couple learns of a railroad disaster, which he believes Mrs. Mallard’s husband was on. Knowing Mrs. Mallard has heart issues, he and Mrs. Mallard’s sister attempt to break the news to Mrs. Mallard lightly. This results in Mrs. Mallard having a short breakdown, followed by a self-analysis, which results in her realizing she is free from her restrictive marriage and can do whatever she pleases. However, her husband is not actually dead, and when he returns home, she dies due to a heart attack. …show more content…

The story’s title, “The Story of an Hour,” allows the reader to infer that the entire story’s plot occured in the span on an hour. Just to emphasize, imagine finding out your significant other is dead, having a mental break down, having a self-analysis, and finally having a heart attack all in an hour. Every sentence is significant in the analyzation of the text, and it keeps the reader’s attention as the story progresses. Characterization is limited for all of the characters, and very little dialogue is used. Sudden plot twists throughout the story also catch the reader’s attention and make the story more dramatic, only adding to the disarray. Lastly, the ending of the story is blunt. The death of Mrs. Mallard is not dragged on, leaving no room for accusations or

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