Preview

Kate Chopin's "Story of an Hour" Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
847 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Kate Chopin's "Story of an Hour" Analysis
Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour Analysis
In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”, the main character, Mrs. Mallord, receives the news of her husband’s death from her sister, Josephine, and brother in law Richard. Mrs. Mallord grieves for a few minutes, but then starts to feel happy and hopeful about her current state. She tries to fight the feelings at first, but succumbs to them instead. She composes herself with her newly found hope only to be shocked with disappointment, Mr. Mallord is still alive. Kate Chopin’s use of setting, plot elements, and character development help make up a surprising new perspective of death. This story is set in the late 1800’s when women had few rights. The story begins with the three main characters all gathered downstairs in a public room such as the dining room, or living room. After the news is delivered to Mrs. Mallord about her husband’s death the story is set in her room upstairs where a chair is facing an open window. “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with new spring life” (Chopin PAGE NUMBER). The story exclaims that it is spring outside the window. Mrs. Mallord is the main character the story is based upon. The other characters are revolving around her, and caring for her throughout the whole story. Mrs. Mallord is the protagonist, for the reader is hoping for her happiness and that she can move on after the death of her husband. She is a strong willed woman being suppressed by society, but when she realizes the death of her husband could allow her to be selfish and live for herself she takes the opportunity. Mrs. Mallord wants to be free to think and live for herself now that her husband is no longer around. She is young and decides she wants a long life to herself. Mrs. Mallord is also a round character in the story. At first she is hurt by the news of her husband’s death, but then becomes happy and hopeful of the future. Mr. Mallord doesn’t reveal almost

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • 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

    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

    “The Story of an Hour” is a two page short story written by Kate Chopin (born February 8, 1851 died August 22, 1904) (Larsson Donald, and Erskine Thomas 1), but despite its small size, it is filled with conflicting emotions and symbolism. The amount of well-hidden symbolism can make it very confusing, but it also gives the story an unlimited amount of meaning. At first glance, many may not realize that the sky is a symbol, or understand a kind “of joy that kills” (Chopin 128), and cannot comprehend the mental state someone must be in to fell “free” (129) from hearing of death of her spouse.…

    • 2338 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour,” her incorporation of connotative diction conveys an optimistic tone that coincides with the main character’s gradual realization that life can still be found after death.…

    • 301 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kate Chopin was a novelist and American short story writer. In 1894, Chopin wrote a particularly intriguing short story, The Story of an Hour, about a woman who was trying to escape society’s judgemental image of women. In Chopin’s story, Louise Mallard, the protagonist, feels distressed and restricted because of the expectations society holds for women as subordinate to men. When the protagonist’s husband supposedly dies, Louise finally feels free to make life choices independently and not have to conform to how society wants her to be. Although Chopin’s description of freedom is the freedom for Louise to be independent and think individually, her idea of freedom from society's expectations and stereotypes connects to Douglass and his story. Freedom from society’s view on the privileges that people have and how they live their lives is one theme that unifies Chopin and Douglass’ thought-provoking stories and also is constant “living theme” in my…

    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, Louise Mallard the main character received the news of her husband’s death. At first the news shocked her. When alone in her room she realizes that she is free. Filled with excitement and the feeling of being reborn she journeys downstairs to find her husband alive and well. Mrs. Mallard then dies; the doctors claimed it was joy. Through the “Story of an Hour” it is discovered that Louise Mallard is a selfish yet strong character.…

    • 579 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”, was published over a century ago in 1894, but even with its age the story manages to be relevant in modern times. Upon first glance the short story is fleeting at only two pages in length and lasts for only an hour and due to this it could be seen as simple. This short story tells the tale of Louise Mallard, who has heart issues, learns from her sister Josephine that her husband, Brently Mallard was killed in train accident. Upon hearing this terrible news, she immediately started to cry before retreating to her room. In her room Louise Mallard goes through a profound awakening. Sometime later, Josephine goes and gets Louise from her room and upon going down the stairs; Louise is shocked to see her reportedly dead husband coming into their home. Mrs. Mallard suddenly dies, which doctors attributed to her heart troubles. Although at first this story seems simple, but surprisingly “The Story of an Hour” is a deep and symbolic story, full of irony and feminist themes of freedom and self awareness.…

    • 2454 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mallard's Awakening

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Kate Chopin’s,”The Story of an Hour,” is an ironic and symbolic story as it portrays an innuendo of repression through the example married women. Chopin’s short story begins with Mrs. Mallard becoming lurid as she hears of her husband's death. Consequently, Mrs. Mallard underwent changes from depressed to an elated state of emotion. Chopin displayed Mrs. Mallards’ grievances and attitude towards freedom through her diction. Just as Mrs. Mallard perceived that she gained her freedom, news was delivered to her stating Brently Mallard was alive. Without hesitation Mrs. Mallard died not only because her freedom was gone, but because she felt guilty when she happily reflected upon her husband's death. Presumably, the cause of Mrs. Mallard's death was heart disease, thus making Chopin’s…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In the story of an Hour of time, Chopin gives new meaning to the age-old saying, ‘Till death do us part.’ If not by his death, then she would achieve freedom through her own death. Unsatisfied with the era’s fate for women, she couldn’t bear the idea of facing life in her husband’s shadow once she had gotten a small taste of new consciousness. Through the creation of Mrs. Mallard’s dual characters, Chopin emphasizes that one would go to any length to attain what they…

    • 1279 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mallard felt, and her change in identity by her role as a women in the 1800 's. Kate Chopin does a wonderful job at really showing the audience what is going on in Mrs. Mallards mind. Her optimism is very quickly changed by a brief session at the window, then quickly ripped away by a glance at the door. Chopin stating that Mrs. Mallard had heart problems proposed more than just a delicate telling of the death of her husband. It became much more than that. Even much more than what Josephine, Brently, and the doctors thought. Although this story seems very interesting and new to us it was far to familiar to women in the 19th century. Chopin used the gloomy wording and gave out the saddening feeling to help you understand the true context of the story. Now what just seemed like a short story, has so much meaning behind…

    • 1524 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kate Chopin’s non-fiction work “The Story of An Hour” gives a detailed account of what Mrs. Mallard feels after heartbreak. Mrs. Mallard is inflicted with heart trouble as her husband dies. She feels there are freedoms and opportunities for her to take advantage of along with the grievance of her husband’s death. These complex issues are accounted for in her brief characterization of her last hour of life. Ironically her husband did not pass away, but she still creates a tragic ending.…

    • 400 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Andrea Essay Paper

    • 714 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In this novel “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin symbolizes a negative outlook of marriage by presenting the reader with a woman who is clearly overjoyed that her husband has died. A good thesis statement for The Story of an Hour would be that the story unveils the inner psychological strains of women who were restrained and misunderstood by agonizing social outlooks upon marriage....…

    • 714 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mrs. Loise Mallard husband, Brently Mallard, has died in a train accident, according to a report received at a newspaper office.…

    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “The Story of an Hour” Mrs. Mallard who “was afflicted with a heart trouble” goes through a lot of mixed emotions after hearing that her husband died in a railroad accident. Kate Chopin uses symbolism, figurative language and irony properly to describe Mrs. Mallard’s feelings and emotions through the story. Mrs. Mallard also feels that she has been trapped in a marriage where she was prisoner of her husband and realizes that it is time for her to live for herself without repression.…

    • 539 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mallard's Oppression

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Kate Chopin is author of “The Story Of An Hour” that is about a woman named Louis Mallard receiving the news that her husband, Brently Mallard, has died in a railroad crash. With Louis suffering from heart disease, her sister, Josephine, gently relays the message. Louis went through mood changes as she went from a grieving wife to a free soul. What caused this mood change? Louis felt as if marriage oppressed her; and now that is a widow, Louis desires to live the life that she desires freely. In opposition to the life she desired to live, Louis died after seeing that her husband isn’t dead. In reality, the causes of Mrs. Mallard’s death are oppression and the inability to live the life she desires.…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays