Mrs Mallard Symbolism In The Story Of An Hour

During Kate Chopin’s marriage she resided in Louisiana where the laws favored the husband in a type of patriarchal code. At the time women were subjected to a lesser role and the husband’s will was freely imposed upon their wives. In “The Story of an Hour” much of Chopin’s desire for the prospect of freedom is reflected to us through the character of Mrs. Mallard. The societal norms of the late 1800’s dictated that women would assume the feminine role and live for their husbands; as a woman’s place was to reside in the shadow of her man. Through the rich use of symbolism Chopin illustrates how the confinement created by social inequality illuminates our innate desire for freedom. The heart is a repeated conventional symbol used that reinforces Mrs. Mallard’s internal and external restrictions set upon her. “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was
Mallard gazes out of symbolizes the releasing of her past life, and replacing it with the new uninhibited world she now has access to. “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air.” (115). In contrast to her heart troubles and the death of her husband, there was a world teeming with life in front of her. The open window presented the ideal view of tree tops full of life and the scent of the rain beckoning at her. Perhaps this world was always there, but the mere existence of her husband inhibited her field of vision leaving her to only see what he saw. Although the world around her had not changed, the realization that she was her own woman now was enough to alter her perspective. The monotone and bleak world she once saw was now abundant with songbirds and vibrant colors. All the restrictions had been lifted off of her shoulders like fresh air coming through the now open window. Freedom was a few mere steps away for her, ready to be