Chopin's The Story Of An Hour
In “The Story of an Hour”, the main character is Mrs. Mallard, also referred to as Louis Mallard. Louis seems to ignore her love for her husband and their marriage and instead be fixated on the luxurious thought of pure freedom. The story takes place in the time span of an hour. That one hour is filled with heartbreak, mixed emotions, drama, and even death. From the beginning of the story, the reader learns that Louis has a weak heart. This is important because it plays a role in how everyone treats her and how fragile she is. Louis may have a weak heart but she desires to be a strong independent woman. Certain parts in the story give some indication of what Louis is physically like. In the story is says that she has “two white slender hands”
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She sits there and processes the news. While her sister and brother are outside her door worried sick she isn’t taking the news well, Louis is actually thinking to herself that she is free at last. The open window she sits in front of symbolizes her finally realizing that the freedom she desires is right in front of her now. As the story goes on, it gives more clues that tell the reader that Louis loved her husband but only sometimes. Her true desire was to be free, but her marriage was holding her back from that dream. It doesn’t seem right that Louis has these desires, while her husband doesn’t have a clue and is out working and providing for her. As a woman, she should be able to stand up for herself and express her desires to her husband. If she communicated with him about her feelings, maybe he would have helped her feel more free. Also he could evaluate himself and see if he is limiting her from doing things in her life in any way. Mr. Mallard supposedly died in a railroad accident. According to Technology in Chopin’s Story of an Hour, “Railroads meant that where people lived and where they worked could be far apart, giving rise to the commuter lifestyle. Time that in previous generations had been spent with family was now spent apart, as family members sped away from one another. These changes certainly affected marital relationships and the experience of womanhood.” This means that Louis was spending several hours of the day by herself. This could have resulted in all her dreams and desires of
She sits there and processes the news. While her sister and brother are outside her door worried sick she isn’t taking the news well, Louis is actually thinking to herself that she is free at last. The open window she sits in front of symbolizes her finally realizing that the freedom she desires is right in front of her now. As the story goes on, it gives more clues that tell the reader that Louis loved her husband but only sometimes. Her true desire was to be free, but her marriage was holding her back from that dream. It doesn’t seem right that Louis has these desires, while her husband doesn’t have a clue and is out working and providing for her. As a woman, she should be able to stand up for herself and express her desires to her husband. If she communicated with him about her feelings, maybe he would have helped her feel more free. Also he could evaluate himself and see if he is limiting her from doing things in her life in any way. Mr. Mallard supposedly died in a railroad accident. According to Technology in Chopin’s Story of an Hour, “Railroads meant that where people lived and where they worked could be far apart, giving rise to the commuter lifestyle. Time that in previous generations had been spent with family was now spent apart, as family members sped away from one another. These changes certainly affected marital relationships and the experience of womanhood.” This means that Louis was spending several hours of the day by herself. This could have resulted in all her dreams and desires of