The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin Essay Example

The Story of an Hour was a short story by Kate Chopin, published in 1894. This well-known piece of literature was controversial at the time. It featured a female protagonist who felt relieved following her husband's death. The ironic ending of The Story of an Hour makes it memorable.

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The following The Story of an Hour literary essay will provide a summary of the plot and a detailed character analysis of Mrs. Mallard. This will help those who are writing a The Story of an Hour critical review.

Introduction

American writer Kate Chopin, born Catherine O'Flaherty. Her stories of brave and delicate women's inner lives are her most well-known works. Today, countries around the globe are reading her novel, "The Awakening", and short stories like The Story of an Hour. She is widely regarded as one of America's most influential authors.

Kate Chopin published The Story of an Hour in 1984. Louise Mallard is the protagonist of this story. She lost her husband in an accidental accident. She later learns that her husband survived. Mrs. Mallard experiences many emotions and feels, and reevaluates her life. She is finally killed when she meets her presumed dead husband at her door. The Story of an Hour will be focusing on the plot and how the protagonist develops.

Summary of The Story of an Hour

The Story of an Hour Introduction

Louise Mallard (the main character) had always suffered from a heart condition. Her family and friends knew about her heart problem, so they tried to keep her safe.

Brently Mallard was mistakenly believed to have died in a terrible railroad accident one day. Richard, Mr. Mallard’s friend, was the one to learn about the death while working in the office. Louise was first informed by Josephine, Josephine's sister.

The Story of an Hour: Main Plot

Because Mrs. Mallard was ill, she was cautious. Josephine was afraid that such a tragedy could cause her a heart attack. She began to plan how she would tell her sister everything, and it worked perfectly. Mrs. Mallard started to weep once. The story was not received by her in the same way that many women receive it. With a sense of sudden abandonment, she cried in the arms of her sister (Woodlief 2).

Mrs. Mallard was immediately apprehensive about her husband's death and wondered how she would survive. To contemplate his passing, she went into a darkened room. This sadness was natural and she was distraught. Even though he was only a brief acquaintance, he had been close to her. She was also grieved by Josephine and her husband Richard (Taibah 1).

Mrs. Mallard was thinking about the future alone in that room. She began to see that this was the beginning of a better chapter of her life as she contemplated her fate. Louise saw freedom and the possibility to do whatever her heart wanted. She had to only think about herself.

The Story of an Hour: Conclusion

Josephine later comes to Louise’s room and tears with joy are exchanged. They descend the stairs to the landing where Mr. Mallard is waiting at the door. He wasn't involved in the accident, and he didn't understand Josephine's crying. Mrs. Mallard collapses at the shock of seeing her husband. Doctors declare that her heart problems caused her death.

Analyse of the Story of an Hour

The story is heavily influenced by the central character's health issues. In the way that he described giving the bad news to someone with a heart condition, the author managed to keep the reader guessing. Louise's sister Josephine tries to be attentive and careful, but expects a painful reaction. But Mrs. Mallard responds better than expected.

The story's main focus is on femininity and the institution that makes marriage possible. The Story of an Hour requires that we speculate about it in order to discover its core message.

The author was able show that marriage was an institution dominated by men. For example, Mr. Mallard treated his wife in a way that she liked only occasionally. Louise has been doing many things for her husband over the years without caring about her well-being. She is now quite content after she received the shocking news. She seemed to have never taken care of her husband.

Or did she? The complicated reaction of Mrs. Mallard to the loss of her spouse is not easy. The grief and loneliness that followed the death of her husband are too much for Mrs. Mallard. However, there is hope for happiness. Louise was aware that her marriage made her an object of his will. Only one sorrow was her loss of life, but she could not live without him. Deep down, she felt that she was free from the chains of living for another man.

Mr. Mallard's apparent death saddens Louise, at first. Although she is distraught about her husband's death, she quickly recovers her strength. Louise knew that her husband would not be coming back. It wasn't hard for her to come to terms with the fact that she couldn't bring her husband back. Mrs. Mallard looks beyond the pain and anticipates freedom for the rest her life.

Mrs. Mallard's desire to be free is reflected in the environment and room she lives in. Mrs. Mallard could view the tops and branches of trees through the window. All were aquiver to the new spring life in the open space before her house. The air was filled with a sweet, refreshing breath of rain. The street below was home to a peddler who was selling his goods. The blue sky was visible through the clouds to the west of her window. They had met and piled them up (Woodlief).

A metaphor could be an open window. It represents the new possibilities and resources Mrs. Mallard had at her disposal without anyone stopping her. It was the "late spring of life," she said.

This story shows how women were marginalized. Society expected women to seek safety and wealth, which was accompanied by a husband. Liberty should not be their concern or their goal. For obvious reasons, Louise kept the secret of her feelings of freedom after Mr. Mallard's passing. Her sister then arrives.

Mrs. Mallard was shocked to see her husband alive in such a short time. At that moment, all her dreams and freedoms were wiped out. This life-altering event almost ended her life. Louise, who was supposed to be content to see her husband alive dies of a heart attack.

The author presents a situational irony in his stylistic style of words: "She had been diagnosed with heart disease...of joy that kills." Many people around the world anticipated this tragedy from the news of Mr. Mallard's passing, and not miraculous survival.

The author also explored Mrs. Mallard's character throughout the story. It is hard to miss the irony of her sudden death. Louise is a woman who longs for independence and has been denied it by her husband. Mr. Mallard is the loss of her freedom that he restores after her death. Mrs. Mallard collapses when she sees her husband at her door and doesn't wake up.

Conclusion

We can draw important conclusions from The Story of an Hour's literary analysis. Mrs. Mallard was unable to control her emotions, especially when it came to the most important matters. Her heart problems may have been caused by her lack of independence and liberty. They cost her her life.

Louise was taken by Mr. Mallard when he married him. As the story reveals, he didn't value her. He had to face the consequences of taking her existence as a given when she died.

The oppressor was also subject to a greater tragedy than the oppressed. It is important to note the dramatic irony that Mr. Mallard was unaware of his wife's true feelings toward him. In the end, his wife was killed by Mr. Mallard's absence.

References

Chopin, Kate. The Story of an hour. The Kate Chopin International Society. Web.

Woodlief, Ann. The Story of an Hour. 2011, Virginia Commonwealth University. Web.

FAQ

What symbolism is there in The Story of an Hour's?

The Story of an Hour is a collection of inner thoughts and feelings that a woman uses to describe her inner world. The heart problem of Mrs. Mallard is a symbol of her dissatisfaction in her marriage. While the window shows her hopes for a better life, the open window represents her aspirations.

What's the meaning of The Story of an Hour?

Kate Chopin's analysis of The Story of an Hour demonstrates that the author's message tries to show us how society of the time was unfair toward women. It also shows the complex inner world of a woman.

What critique does The Story of an Hour offer?

The Story of an Hour critiques the 1890s marriage experience. This marriage was oppressive for women and led to their losing their freedoms. The story criticizes the dominant society at that time.

How can you begin a critical analysis of The Story of an Hour

A brief introduction is a good place to start your analysis of The Story of an Hour. Be sure to include a few words about the author and their lives. Talk about the story, and let the reader know the details.

What are The Story of an Hour's two main themes?

The story strongly portrays the theme of a woman's search for her self-identity. It is evident in Mrs. Mallard's reactions to her husband's death. The second theme is a repressive marriage.