Preview

Elements of a Successful Short Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
384 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Elements of a Successful Short Essay
The Marriage Theme in “Trifles” and “The Story Of An Hour” (used with permission)

The theme in “Trifles” and “The Story of an Hour” has one prominent similarity concerning marriage that shapes the flow of story: from a feminist approach, we see that the women of both stories lose their individual identity as a result of male domination in the bond.

In “The Story of an Hour”, Mrs. Mallard rejoices her chance to regain her long-lost individuality again after hearing of her husband's death: “They would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending her in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature (Chopin, 11).” She finds these thoughts monstrous at first, but she rationalizes them because of the suffering she endured in her marriage without identity.

This loss of identity can be seen in “Trifles” as well, in the marriages of Wright, Hale, and Peters. Mrs. Hale tells Mrs. Peters that, "I heard [Mrs. Wright] used to wear pretty clothes and be lively, when she was Minnie Foster, one of the town girls singing in the choir. But that -- oh, that was thirty years ago" (Glaspell, 947). The county attorney later remarks that because Mrs. Peters is the sheriff's wife, she is "married to the law" (Glaspell, 592). Mrs. Hale afterwards hides evidence from the crime scene, showing the beginning of her rebellion from her husband's domination and the evolution of her individuality.

We can see in both stories that there is a clear link in the themes concerning the female loss of identity in marriage. Mrs. Mallard realizes this but does not have time to act upon it before she dies. Hers is a story of suppressed desire for freedom that emerges too late in her life. Mrs. Hale succeeds in doing so by defying her marriage's assumed lawfulness. As she sides with the murder suspect, she is siding with an alternative

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    English 102 Fitction Essay

    • 1129 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In Kate Chopin’s short tale, “The Story of an Hour”, the protagonist Mrs. Mallard seems to ride a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings about her husband, Mr. Mallard’s, death. The story begins by informing us of Mrs. Mallard’s heart condition which leads us to believe that the heart condition will affect the story. Many times in the story we see that Mrs. Mallard does not handle situations in the way most woman did in that time. She doesn’t seem to know how to really feel about the tragic situation of her husbands death. Mrs. Mallard goes through so many changes in such a short period of time that some readers would believe it is the amount of drastic changes that caused her to pass of a heart disease…

    • 1129 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kate Chopins short story , “The Story of An Hour”, describes Mrs. Mallard as being ienslaved in an idealistic marriage during the nineteenth century. Mrs. Mallard, unlike the stereotypical women of the time, tastes the momentary sweetness of freedom when she hears the false news of her husband’s death.…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mallard, in her final moments of life. As the reader shares in the heartache, joys and conflict, that Mrs. Mallard feels at the news of her husband’s death, to the moment of her realization of what that would mean for her future, the reader is reluctant to tear their eyes away from Chopin’s plot twisting story. In a twist of fate, Mr. Mallard appears unharmed and the hopes and dreams of poor Louise, just recently resurrected from the grave, die and are buried along with her. Through key literary elements and devices, the author creates a stunning and surprising work that highlights the joy of remaining independent, and the suffrage that may come along with marriage. Chopin uses this short story to share an insightful underlying message that continues to resonate with me: to live for…

    • 679 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Susan Glaspell's Trifles

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hale and Peters cover-up. Holstein asserts that the two women were not just mindlessly helping a fellow woman, but instead were reliving her [Mrs. Wright] sad and seemingly abusive life (Holstein). Holstein brings the reader’s attention to the mundane details that in the dialogue between the women such as describing Mr. Wright as a “raw wind” (Glaspell 1723). The two wives more than just empathize with Mrs. Wright, they “identify with her.” Holstein brings the reader’s attention to the fact the both women defend the messy farmhouse against the two investigators showing they understood what Minnie was going through than previously shown (Holstein). Holstein’s critical essay has presented a different view compared to my view of Trifles and gives many more examples that I have time to…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    No Name Woman Analysis

    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In “The Story of An Hour,” Kate Chopin uses imagery and irony to show a wife’s newfound freedom and joy upon hearing the news of her husband’s death. At first, Mrs. Mallard…

    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Women are generally guided by emotion, and Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are no different. When discussing certain situations with a woman, it is likely that emotion will come into play at one point or another. In “A Jury of Her Peers” the women are no different; they stick together and struggle with the knowledge they have to decide whether or not to reveal evidence of motive. When two women discuss the motive for murder, they take seriously into account the emotions involved when it is a fellow woman that is to be convicted. They come to the conclusion that silence after a “noisy” happiness is definitely a bad thing.…

    • 728 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the short story, Story of an Hour, Chopin illustrates that societal expectations will subdue and repress one’s identity. Firstly, in the very first paragraph it is noted that Mrs. Mallard is afflicted with heart trouble; naturally, one would presume that she is of quite some age, however, in the eighth paragraph it reads, “She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength.” (Chopin, 8th paragraph) This comes as a surprise to the reader as it was originally inferred that she was much older but now that the reader becomes aware of her age, they are able to deduce how much psychological and emotional strain must have been pressed upon her to have lines that “bespoke repression” at such a young age. As well, Mrs. Mallard may have been inclined to enjoy those first few moments of newfound freedom in solitude, as she would not like anyone to see her in peace after her husband’s death. This sentence accurately illustrates how societal norms have repressed her identity, causing her to even hide from her sister to avoid questioning.…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Mallard’s, but rather tell a tale of an unhappy woman’s view of the world. After all, no reference is made towards Josephine (Mrs. Mallard’s sister)’s happiness. There is evidence suggesting Mrs. Mallard could have been a selfish person such as, “there would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.” This idea can be considered, although it is important to recognize that the Josephine, the only other women present in the story, isn’t alerted or concerned at either the beginning stages nor the end stages of Mrs. Mallard’s grief. She teats it as if it is the norm, inferring that she lives a similar life.…

    • 1279 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Trifles

    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The relationship between the two Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale is that one is the wife of the sheriff in charge of the investigation of a murder that other in company of her husband found. They develop a similar felling for Mrs. Wright through the play. They defended Minnie of the cruel comments and false judgment made by the men. Based on this they decide to hide all possible evidence from the investigators trying hard to aid Mrs. Wright as much as they can.…

    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There is a strong depiction of irony regarding this ideology in both works. Glaspell makes a clearly ironic jab at this patriarchal belief with Mrs. Peter's and Mrs. Hale's husbands, the sheriff and the _, whose sole responsibility it was to find Mrs. Wright's motive for the homicide had no significant role in the resolution. Glaspell makes a point to elaborate on what clearly differentiated women from men in the male depiction of gender roles in Trifles.…

    • 911 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Trifles Feminist Analysis

    • 2287 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Hale and Mrs. Peters become the two main characters during their investigation, Mrs. Hale recalls the good times of Mrs. Wright’s life. There was once a time when she was known as Minnie Foster. Minnie “used to wear pretty clothes and be lively-singing in the choir (778).” Before marriage, Minnie was an upbeat girl who took part in her community, but now, she does not even take part of the Ladies Aid. Unfortunately, once she committed to a marriage with Mr. Wright, Minnie changed her way of being, and it was not a good change for her persona. Her house was disheveled with unwashed things and she was not properly kept herself which shows to prove that she is not the lively girl she once was. She became a more reserved woman and seemed to not care about anything, though she was trying her best to survive by keeping busying with her…

    • 2287 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Occasionally people will run across a couple who do not seem to have that marriage everyone desires to possess. In many cases these relationships are unhealthy because they feel imprisoned in a marriage they simply do not want. In both Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and Gail Godwin’s “A Sorrowful Woman,” this is what seems to be the reality for these two couples.…

    • 535 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Marriage in the 1800s

    • 1814 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Marriage has been portrayed as many things throughout the years. In the short stories, The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin and A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell both portray marriage, and how it does not always bring happiness. Each story was written by a married woman in the 1800s, this could reveal and interrupt how the lives of a married woman were in their time period. In each story, the main character is woman being overpowered by her husband, then when they find out they could be ‘free’ a sudden sigh of relief comes to mind. Only to be either be mislead or to feel trapped again. The authors Kate Chopin and Susan Glaspell illustrate how marriage was in the 1800s and how it was not the source of happiness everyone in today’s society thinks of it to be.…

    • 1814 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the 19th century women did not really have much power or say in anything that went on. Women were really the ones that stayed home and took care of the family and tended to the house, while the husbands went out and worked. Women stayed out of the lime light and their opinions were never heard or considered. The short story “Story of an Hour” is about a woman who suffered from a marriage. As a reader we are not introduced to the conflict between the husband and wife. Throughout the story Kate Chopin portrays Mrs. Mallard was actually happy that her husband died and that leaded to her tragic death, “The Joy That Kills.”(Chopin 517). On the other hand the play Trifles, has the same moral as, “the story of an hour” but a completely different outcome. This play is about a couple that does not take any part in the play, and we only learn about them throughout the character’s dialogue. As in the story Mr. Wright is killed by his wife Mrs. Wright. The way the play closes shows us that her reasoning for murdering her husband is more than just an unhappy marriage. Although both plays are harshly critical of the institution of marriage, the somber impact of the more realistic story within “Trifles” provides a more harsh understanding of marriage as opposed to the short story “the story of an hour,” which uses a plot twist to accomplish the intent to surprise the reader.…

    • 987 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    A jury to her peers

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages

    From the beginning of the, you can see the difference of the gender roles. The men are confident and have no fear of what’s inside, but the women are scared and timid approaching the house. Prior to this, Mrs. Hale was very scared that her husband would say unnecessary comments to the sheriff, thus getting Minnie into more trouble than she is already in. Mrs. Hale is very peculiar woman; she keeps her voice at an even tone the whole book and watches what she says closes. Though she knows Minnie is under investigation for her husband’s murder she still sympathizes with her and makes sure her husband says exactly what he saw and not what he thinks of. While all of the investigation continues after the attorney listened to…

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics