Independence In The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin

“The Story of an Hour” is a short story told by Kate Chopin. The story begins by telling the readers about Mrs. Mallard’s also known as Louise, has heart trouble and was told about the tragic accident of her beloved husband. Hearing the news Mrs. Mallard sits in her chair motionless for a few days and occasionally will grieve about the loss of her husband, Brently. But, after a while she realizes that she is now set free. Although Mrs. Mallard loved her husband dearly, she now has the freedom and independence to do as she pleases. She states, "Free! Body and soul free!”(Mrs. Mallard). Even though, her freedom had not lasted long. She is sitting in the room when the door opens and there at the door appears her husband. Mrs. Mallard cries out and before the doctors had gotten to the house she had already died of a heart attack. This short story shows the interaction of the female independence, the forbidden joy of independence,
and the confidence of their marriage. It also, has major symbols such as the open window and her troubled heart. “The Story of an Hour” exemplifies the interaction of the female independence. During the grief of her husband she is faced with conflicting emotions and happiness at the freedom she now able to have for the rest of her life. In the late nineteenth century the American wives were legally bound to their husband’s position and power. When a women was widow they did not feel the responsibility to find another husband, instead they gained more legal recognition and had more freedom over their lives. Lastly, the characters play such an important role in the story. One of the themes in the story “The Story of an Hour” is the forbidden joy of independence. When Mrs. Mallard hears about her beloved husband’s death she reacts with grief. Now, that she is alone she begins to realize all the freedom she will have being widowed. “She said it over and over under her breath: “free, free, free!” The thought of the independence that she will now have begins to excite her. “Beat it back with her will” reveals the forbiddances’ of how the pleasure really is. Mrs. Mallard turns to pray, hoping for a long life of independence. When Brently returns he unwillingly takes her independence away. The forbidden joy disappears as it came. The taste of it was just enough to kill her. The confidence of the marriage is another big theme to the short story.
Mrs. Mallard obviously loved her husband dearly. He was a kind, loving and caring to her. But, the excitement of her husband’s death does not propose any cruelty, she knows that she will sob at Brently’s funeral. She never names a way in which Brently worried her. Their marriage was like any other marriage there was definite love between the two. Their love for each other never failed. The open window is an important symbol in the short story. The open window that Mrs. Mallard gazes out at represents the freedom and opportunities that she can have after the passing of her husband. “She felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air” (narrator).” When she gazes out the open window she looks at the sky, she feels the joy that awaits her in her life. Also, the open window shows a clear and bright view into her future. Once she turns away from the window and the view, her future and freedom is now
gone. Also, the heart trouble of Louise exemplifies the uncertainty toward her marriage and lack of freedom. As it states in the beginning of story “knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble”, this was the first thing that we learned about her. The heart trouble is what makes it alarming of the announcement of Brentlys death very frightening. Someone with a weak heart would not be able to deal well with the tragic news. Once Louise realizes her new independence that she has gained her heart begins to race. This causes the blood to pump to her heart. Unfortunately, the reveal of her husband being alive puts her heart into shock. The shock caused her to have a heart attack. At the end of the story it states, “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy that kills.” The doctors concluded that she died of overwhelming joy because it had been the loss of the joy that actually killed her. Louise died of a broken heart caused by the sudden loss of her independence. Brently Mallard, is Louise’s husband. He was supposedly killed in a tragic train accident. Brently was a kind, caring and loving man. Although, Louise felt like he was taking away her freedom. He arrives from the tragic train accident, unaware that there was an accident that happened.