Kate Chopin Women's Role In Society

Women have long held a specific role in society. A multitude of authors have conveyed this role with different aspects of their pieces of literature. In her controversial work “The Story of an Hour,” Kate Chopin utilizes Mrs. Mallard’s actions and reactions, influenced by Chopin’s background and the social norms of the late nineteenth century, to illustrate how confining women’s role in society was during her lifetime. Chopin’s own life experiences influenced the way Mrs. Mallard reacts. When Chopin was only five years old, her father died in a work-related accident and soon after her beloved grandmother also passed away. Later on during the Civil War, Chopin lived in St. Louis where American citizens from both sides of the war resided.
Although Chopin’s marriage had been one where Chopin was free to express her ideas and opinions, she was well aware that her freedom within her marriage was rare. This is evident in “The Story of an Hour.” After learning of her husband’s death, Louise ruminates that “she had loved [her husband]-sometimes” (Chopin). This thought alludes to the obvious conclusion that for some reason, Mrs. Mallard did not entirely love her husband and had reason to feel that way. In conjunction with her mutterings that she is now “‘Free! Body and soul free!’”, the reader can then confirm his assumption that their marriage was not a happy one. In these events, it is clear to see Chopin’s life influences; following her husband’s death, Chopin had to raise and care for six children by herself and also provide for them. This did not allow for any grieving period. As a result, Chopin most likely dealt with unsettled grief for the rest of her life. Letting these emotions and deep sadness
Mallard’s reaction is also influenced by the strict social norms of the 1890s. During the late nineteenth century, women were still expected to be the caretaker of the home and of the children (Turner). Women were meant to be docile, malleable, and polite; marriage was a confinement. Women did what their husbands told them to do or face punishment. If a woman “pursue[d]... [her] own needs and desires” (Turner) they were perceived and judged as self-interested. Chopin conveyed her disagreement with this supposed role with Louise’s reaction. She cries out that she is now “‘free, free, free!” (Chopin). Seemingly strange, Mrs. Mallard is actually overcome with joy following the death of her husband. Yet when considering how confining the marriage most likely was, based on the social expectations of the late nineteenth century, her reaction is logical. The death of her husband is the end of a confining marriage where she wasn’t allowed to do what she wanted or voice her opinions. For her and many women of that time period, this would be liberating. Thus, after contemplating the social norms of the American society during the 1890s, it becomes clear why Louise acted in such an unexpected