Literary Analysis of the Story of an Hour
Literary Analysis of The Story of an Hour
When faced with the loss of a loved one, numerous individuals would become troubled
and miserable. Some would even think that their life is not worth living for without that special
loved one. However, in Kate Chopin’s, “The Story of an Hour,” Louise Mallard is a young
woman who exemplifies an entirely contrasted response when notified that her husband, Brently
Mallard, died in a tragic accident. Despite the catastrophic information, she discovers the true
sentiment of liberty and her brand new life devoid of her husbands authority. In “The Story of an
Hour,” by Kate Chopin, the author depicts how someone can be trapped in an unproductive and
unsatisfying reality because of other’s thoughtlessness, exploitation, and domination. When
combined with the contemporary society’s belief, presumably the later half of the 19th century, a
further understanding of Chopin’s thoughts and feelings can be realized. Mrs. Louise Mallard, the
victim and messenger of this story, is the image of such a person. Her relationship with her
husband is so oppressive and limiting that even death is considered a reasonable means of escape.
The condition of life for Mrs. Mallard is terrible, yet for some reason she doesn’t seem to come to
the full realization until her husband’s death. This leads one to believe that was a common place
for women to be unhappy in their marriage and have no conventional means of escape (divorce).
However, Chopin doesn’t directly make that point. Many women are in search of freedom
from their marriage and they believe the only way to be free is to experience the death of their
husband.
In the beginning we find out that Mrs. Mallard is afflicted with a heart trouble, and news
about her husband’s death is brought to her “as gently as possible” (259) by her sister Josephine.
Louise Mallard obviously is expected to be devastated by this news, but strangely,
When faced with the loss of a loved one, numerous individuals would become troubled
and miserable. Some would even think that their life is not worth living for without that special
loved one. However, in Kate Chopin’s, “The Story of an Hour,” Louise Mallard is a young
woman who exemplifies an entirely contrasted response when notified that her husband, Brently
Mallard, died in a tragic accident. Despite the catastrophic information, she discovers the true
sentiment of liberty and her brand new life devoid of her husbands authority. In “The Story of an
Hour,” by Kate Chopin, the author depicts how someone can be trapped in an unproductive and
unsatisfying reality because of other’s thoughtlessness, exploitation, and domination. When
combined with the contemporary society’s belief, presumably the later half of the 19th century, a
further understanding of Chopin’s thoughts and feelings can be realized. Mrs. Louise Mallard, the
victim and messenger of this story, is the image of such a person. Her relationship with her
husband is so oppressive and limiting that even death is considered a reasonable means of escape.
The condition of life for Mrs. Mallard is terrible, yet for some reason she doesn’t seem to come to
the full realization until her husband’s death. This leads one to believe that was a common place
for women to be unhappy in their marriage and have no conventional means of escape (divorce).
However, Chopin doesn’t directly make that point. Many women are in search of freedom
from their marriage and they believe the only way to be free is to experience the death of their
husband.
In the beginning we find out that Mrs. Mallard is afflicted with a heart trouble, and news
about her husband’s death is brought to her “as gently as possible” (259) by her sister Josephine.
Louise Mallard obviously is expected to be devastated by this news, but strangely,