The Story of an Hour Literary Analysis
Women freedom in Marriage In Kate Chopin’s 1894 story “The Story of an Hour” Mrs. Malloard is shocked because of her husband death news, and it turns out with the excitement of her future freedom. Chopin reflects how women are controlled by their husbands because of that Mrs. Mallard feels happiness when she hears her husband death news. Then, the story ends with unexpected situation which is her husband come back home alive, and her happiness disappear. In that situation, her weak heart cannot control her reaction then she dies.
In this story Chopin describes Mrs. Mallord’s two sided feelings sadness and excitement because of her husband death news. At first Mrs. Mallad who has a heart problem hears the news of her husband death, and she feels shocked and sad. Chapion describes it as…..She wept at once, with sudden,, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms.”(459) However, her sadness doesn’t stay longer, and her feeling changes to joy…”new born freedom.
” (460)
Sometimes in marriage there may not be a mutual love between the two people who are together, so that Mrs. Mallard is not happy with her marriage life “ There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully ”(459), so the news of her husband death makes her happy and gives her freedom. Therefore, Chopin reflects Mrs. Mallard has been trapped by her husband that’s why she says. “Free! Body and soul free!’’(460) Also this story shows the relationship between husband and wife in the 19th century. Chopin emphasizes that is how men are more powerful and dominant. It seems like Mrs. Mallard does not have the right to stand against her marriage life.
Moreover, if she feels like she doesn’t have freedom with her husband, she would do something to stay away from her marriage life. However, since she doesn’t have the power or right to do that at that time, she feels so happy when the news of her husband death passed on. Therefore, she is pretending in her relationship. As well, she says “There would be no one to live for during those coming years….” (460) In conclusion, the story of an hour is an interesting story. Chopin describes a young married woman reaction when she hears her husband death. Besides, she reflects Mrs. Mallard’s feelings in different ways at first she is depressed, then she is excited because of her freedom, and at last the story ends with her death.
