Change As Depicted In The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin
Here Today Gone Tomorrow
Every day, people receive news that they are not prepared to hear. A woman receives the news that she is pregnant while someone is being diagnosed with cancer. While someone is being diagnosed with cancer, another person just lost a loved one. Individuals typically have their lives planned out and do not prepare themselves to expect the unexpected. In reality, though, change is the only constant thing in life. In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” the theme that life changes in an instant is developed through situational irony, internal conflict, and symbolism.
In the text, situational irony depicts how Louise’s life transforms. In the beginning, Mrs Mallard receives the news of her husband’s death. She then faces the “storm of grief” (13). The largest portion of the story focuses on Brently’s death. At the end of the story, however, a very unpredicted situation occurs. Chopin states, “Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his gripsack and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of accident, and did not even know there had been one” (14). Because of this startling incident, it is evident to say that Louise’s life suddenly changes. …show more content…
Furthermore, the internal struggle that Mrs.
Mallard encounters demonstrates how her feelings alter. When she finds out her husband is dead, she begins to weep her sorrow away. Louise then spends some time alone, which causes her destructive feelings to quickly lead to relief. “ But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome” (14). This conveys that Mrs. Mallard sees the positive side of Brently being gone, which is that she is ready to have freedom and independence. Louise felt gloomy at first, but her mood changed to being very optimistic in a very short
time.
Symbolism is used to show how Mr. Mallard’s life is about to change upon his arrival. Chopin states, “It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his gripsack and umbrella” (14). What is the purpose of Mr.Mallard carrying his umbrella? It represents the storm that awaits him. Brently experiences confusion of the reactions of Josephine and Richards as he enters. He is clueless that Louise thinks he is dead. “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy that kills” (14). Because of the unexpected death of his wife, Mr. Mallard immediately runs into a storm of life.
In conclusion, “The Story of an Hour” uses different types of figurative language to provide some dramatic turns of events, creating the theme of the story. Most people are not prepared for tragic events in life because they already have every dream and wish planned out. Change is a continuous life experience that provides fear and happiness. The story implies that life changes in an instant, but the way people control their reactions to it affects how they will survive it.
Word Count: 522
Every day, people receive news that they are not prepared to hear. A woman receives the news that she is pregnant while someone is being diagnosed with cancer. While someone is being diagnosed with cancer, another person just lost a loved one. Individuals typically have their lives planned out and do not prepare themselves to expect the unexpected. In reality, though, change is the only constant thing in life. In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” the theme that life changes in an instant is developed through situational irony, internal conflict, and symbolism.
In the text, situational irony depicts how Louise’s life transforms. In the beginning, Mrs Mallard receives the news of her husband’s death. She then faces the “storm of grief” (13). The largest portion of the story focuses on Brently’s death. At the end of the story, however, a very unpredicted situation occurs. Chopin states, “Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his gripsack and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of accident, and did not even know there had been one” (14). Because of this startling incident, it is evident to say that Louise’s life suddenly changes. …show more content…
Furthermore, the internal struggle that Mrs.
Mallard encounters demonstrates how her feelings alter. When she finds out her husband is dead, she begins to weep her sorrow away. Louise then spends some time alone, which causes her destructive feelings to quickly lead to relief. “ But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome” (14). This conveys that Mrs. Mallard sees the positive side of Brently being gone, which is that she is ready to have freedom and independence. Louise felt gloomy at first, but her mood changed to being very optimistic in a very short
time.
Symbolism is used to show how Mr. Mallard’s life is about to change upon his arrival. Chopin states, “It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his gripsack and umbrella” (14). What is the purpose of Mr.Mallard carrying his umbrella? It represents the storm that awaits him. Brently experiences confusion of the reactions of Josephine and Richards as he enters. He is clueless that Louise thinks he is dead. “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy that kills” (14). Because of the unexpected death of his wife, Mr. Mallard immediately runs into a storm of life.
In conclusion, “The Story of an Hour” uses different types of figurative language to provide some dramatic turns of events, creating the theme of the story. Most people are not prepared for tragic events in life because they already have every dream and wish planned out. Change is a continuous life experience that provides fear and happiness. The story implies that life changes in an instant, but the way people control their reactions to it affects how they will survive it.
Word Count: 522