Death in the Story of an Hour Essay - 906 Words

Traditionally, women have been known as the less dominant sex. They have been stereotyped as being only housewives and bearers of the children. Many interesting characters in literature are conceived from the tension women have faced with men. This tension is derived from men; society, in general; and within a woman herself. Kate Chopin‘s short story, â€Å"The Story of an Hour†, focus on a woman’s dilemma near the turn of the 19th century. Contradicting the â€Å"normal† or sad assumption of death, â€Å"The Story of an Hour† illustrates the significance of death representing freedom. The Story narrates about an hour of Louise Mallard’s life, as she tries to understand, and deal with her feelings of her husbands death. In The Story of an Hour,†¦show more content†¦The drastic halt is too much for her weak heart to handle. There are a few symbols in the story, which are symbolic of death representing freedom. The setting in the story takes place during Spring. Louise sits in her bedroom and looks out the window. The spring day symbolizes a new beginning of her life in which she is free. Spring is the time when living things grow and are reborn. Likewise, Louise believes she will become productive, energized and reborn. Louise thought she had her whole life of freedom to look forward to. Another symbol is the open window in her bedroom. The open window suggests that there is no material object standing in the way of her new life. There is a clear passage between her life of captivity to her life of freedom. Her husband was the only person holding her back, but now that he is gone, she is able to look forward to the future when she can live her life for herself. In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† there is conflict that states why Louise would want to be free; the role of the wife versus the role of the husband. For instance, Louise struggled with her feelings about her marriage for years. Louise thinks what co uld 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 (16). She admits that she did love her husband, but often she did not. On the other hand, the story suggests that her husband wasShow MoreRelated Essay on the Death of Freedom in Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour919 Words   |  4 PagesDeath of Freedom in The Story of an Hour In Kate Chopin’s short story, The Story of an Hour, we are told that Mrs. Mallard, the main character, has a heart condition. Then Mrs. Mallard’s sister, Josephine, tells her Mr. Mallard died in a railroad disaster. At the end of the story, Mrs. Mallard dies when her husband suddenly walks through the door. The doctor says that Mrs. Mallard died of heart disease—of joy that kills (Chopin 27). Some people may agree with the doctor’s diagnosisRead MoreThe Death of Louise Mallard and Female Identity in The Story of an Hour1858 Words   |  8 PagesIn Chopin’s thousand work short story The Story of an Hour, the protagonist Louise Mallard is afflicted with heart trouble but learns that her husband has died in a railroad accident. Upon her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard catches a glimpse of what independence feels like, but it is quickly taken away from once her husband returns unharmed. Chopin’s feminist ideals form the basis of this story where she explores female identity in a patriarchal society. For women of her time, marriage could beRead MoreTheme of Life After Death in the Management of Grief, the Story of an Hour, and the Jewlery896 Words   |  4 PagesLife After the Death of a Loved-One Death, although it is a part of life, can be very hard on those whom were close to the deceased person. 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However after her death most of Chopin’s work was forgotten, that was until the 1950s when her work again was recognized as insightful and moving, setting into motion a Kate Chopin revival which was both successful and remarkable (Biography). â €Å"The Story of an Hour† focuses on the liberation and new found freedom of a newlyRead MoreThe Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin1159 Words   |  5 PagesThe short story â€Å"The Story of an Hour,† by Kate Chopin is about a woman who dies after finding out that her husband, believed to be deceased, is actually alive. The short story â€Å"The Fathers Confession,† by Guy de Maupassant is about a man who confesses to a crime he committed to his children in a letter after he passes away. A close reading of these stories reveals themes of repressive relationships and freedom. In addition, the reader gains insight through analyzing characters with use of technicalRead MoreEssay on Structural Technique in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin861 Words   |  4 Pagesshort story. Kate Chopin uses structural techniques to enhance â€Å"The Story of an Hour† from beginning to end. She follows formal structure to a certain degree, but occasionally strays to act ual structure. Upon analysis of the organization of Chopin’s story, the reader understands the powerful meaning that is expressed in such a short piece. Initially, a short story begins with an exposition. This is the laying out of important background information, characters, and setting. Chopin’s story is onlyRead MoreThe Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin Essay1528 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin is very intriguing, not only because of the emotional change Louise Mallard goes through the hour after her husband’s tragic death but also the way Chopin uses irony in the story. During this analysis of â€Å"The Story of an Hour† we will discuss the summary, plot, setting, tone, theme, point of view, emotions of Louise Mallard and other characters involved in the story. Chopin’s story uses the feelings of a married womanRead More Essay on Social Expectations in Story of an Hour and Sorrowful Woman1387 Words   |  6 PagesMarriage  in The Story of an Hour and A Sorrowful Woman      Ã‚  Ã‚   Marriage does not always bring people happiness they expect.   A number of people feel trapped in their own marriages.   Mrs. Mallard in Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour† and the unnamed protagonist in Gail Godwin’s â€Å"A Sorrowful Woman† are among those who experience such unfortunate.   Only one hour in her marriage did Mrs. Mallard feel really happy; that was, bizarrely, when she was told about her husband’s death.   For the femaleRead More Womens Repression in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin Essay711 Words   |  3 PagesKate Chopins The Story of an Hour is a great story that conveys an important message about life and how difficult it can be for women, particularly in previous centuries. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when this story was written, women were quite often mistreated and had to live restricted lives that lacked opportunity. Generally, women weren?t liberated during the 19th century. Trad itionally, women did all the hard work in the house and had no opportunities to make their own living orRead MoreThe, Open Window, And The Husband, By Kate Chopin1615 Words   |  7 Pagesimagery and cyclical stories to provoke deep observation into the issues into the human psyche, which was a time where women were not considered equal to that of men. Although contrast and natural imagery are uniquely placed in Chopin’s original work for magazines such as, Vogue, this perspective will be on cyclical passages, she created in her short stories. Fate, â€Å"open window†, and the husband, Mr. Mallard are three cyclical themes created in Chopin’s piece,† The story of an Hour†. Unknowingly to the