Mrs Mallard's Oppression

Coming from the time period where women had no voice and no power. Women were owned by their husbands and had little to no control over their own lives. Kate Chopin, who is considered one of the first feminist authors of the 20th century, has written a story called “The Story of an Hour”. This story is about Louise Mallard; Louis Mallard is a typical woman in 1890s that did not have much way of personal freedom within her marriage. Once she heard of her husband death in a railroad accident, she quickly realizes a new potential for her own self-identity. She felt a sense of freedom only when her husband dies. While he was alive, she is a "normal" housewife for her husband; she must obey to him, and follow his orders. Louise is now a woman of
independence, who is free from her husband. Kate Chopin has written this short story in a way that the readers are able to see both sides of the story. The only way to see the truth is through the reader’s perspective. The writer is able to give the readers the ability to see the thoughts of each character.
She gives the audience a different point of view other than the characters and that leads to the only truth of Mrs. Mallard’s death.
In the beginning of the story, Mrs. Mallard is characterized as a fragile woman who suffered from heart problems. Kate Chopin writes, “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death”(Chopin 1-2). When the news of her husband’s death was received, a family friend (Richard) and Mrs. Mallard’s sister (Josephine) were very gentle in the way they broke the news to her because of her heart condition. After the news was broken to her, it seemed she would act to her husband’s death in an ordinary way “she wept once with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arm” (Chopin 9). This tells the readers that she is truly is sad about her husbands death. Mrs. Mallard has been so used to the women duties role in the marriage, the news of her husband’s death gave her an awestruck moment of shock. The life she has known up to now will drastically change and this scared her. After grieving with her sister, Mrs. Mallard went to her
room by herself not knowing what to feel and sat on her chair. Kate Chopin writes, “There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.” (Chopin 11-12). In her room Mrs. Mallard sat in her chair next to the open window and thought about what had happened and to let it all soak in. Looking out the window, she began to realize certain things. She can see the open square and life was moving on despite her husband’s death. Kate Chopin writes, “She could see in the open square before her house tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life, the delicious breath of rain was in the air” (Chopin 13-14). She starting to view her husband’s death as a new beginning of life and to realize a sense of freedom that she never had before. At this point of the story, the readers begin to see the different perspectives involved with each character. Kate Chopin writes, “Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhole, imploring for admission. Louise, open the door! I beg, open the door- you will make yourself ill.” (Chopin 49-52). The characters in the story have the perception that they believe Mrs. Mallard is in a truly depressed state because of her husband’s death. Josephine and Richards believes Mrs. Mallard is in her room grieving for her husband but in fact Mrs. Mallard is fantasizing about all the days and years of freedom ahead of her and hopes that she lives a long life. Kate Chopin has written like this intentionally to allow the readers to tap into each character’s thoughts and their point of view.
Mrs. Mallard felt deep grief and relief at the same time. For example, when the person you lose have been ill and suffering for a long time, and you have been the main caregiver for that person, you can feel a great sense of loss, relief, and why not, a sense of freedom all at the same time. Even if they don’t admit these feelings to yourself because guilt takes you over. In Mrs. Mallard’s case she had felt trapped in her marriage. Even in a very happy marriages you lose a little of yourself for the sake of the marriage. Kate Chopin writes, “When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: free, free, free!” (Chopin 31-32). She is surprised when she said the words “free, free, free!” She had not even allowed herself to think of any other life. The choice has been made for her, and she not only accepts this truth, she welcomes it. She starts to imagine another life. This longing for freedom, which she has not even allowed herself to have until this moment, takes over her, and she remain in these thoughts. She does not want to be interrupted while she imagines this new life. Even though Mrs. Mallard’s husband was really good to her, Kate Chopin writes, “There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime…” (Chopin 41-44). Mr. Mallard had nothing but love her, which does not erase the fact she does not have freedom. This story is much less about the marriage and more of the feeling of being trapped whether or not what is trapping her is positive or negative. The feeling of being trapped is not having choices in her life.
It was made clear that Mr.
Mallard is not a bad husband when Kate Chopin writes, “She knew that she would weep again when she saw that kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely” (Chopin 37-39). Mrs. Mallard knows she will cry again when she sees her husband at the funeral. Mrs. Mallard’s husband did not treat her badly. The line where the writer mentioned, “tender hands folded in death” This means that the husband is not abusive at all. Mrs. Mallard’s husband was a good to her and he always looked at her very lovingly. It is the social norm of that time period that all men oppress their wives even if they do it out of kindness. Then Mrs. Mallard imagines the years ahead, which belong only to her now, and spreads her arms out joyfully with anticipation. She will be free, on her own without anyone to oppress her. Louise knows that she often felt love for her husband but tells herself that none of that matters anymore. She feels ecstatic with her a sense of
independence.
The doctors arrived and pronounce that Mrs. Mallard died of a heart attack brought on by happiness. The doctors said that because the characters in the story do not know the details and the thoughts of Mrs. Mallard that the readers know. The audience all knows what each character did and thought. This story is mostly from the view point of Mrs. Mallard and we are allowed to see into the head of Mrs. Mallard as she is having her realization upstairs that she is free. “We” the readers know that Mrs. Mallard is over joyed of the idea of being free. She really did not die from the joy that kills; she died from disappointment. This story is about the joy of independence, being in an oppressed marriage, struggle for freedom, and women’s rights. The main idea is to show that marriage limits woman from their rights and freedom. The author’s message is for women to realize their need for independence, even if it’ll break the marriage. Women’s rights have come a long way since the 1890s. Women were viewed as property by their husbands and had no political say; their sole purpose is to spend the rest of their lives serving the husband. It was not until recently society’s views on women’s rights have changed for the better. Women have gone through many hurdles to fight for equal rights. They have shown themselves more then capable to accomplish anything and they have fought long and hard and continued to do so today.

Works Cited
Chopin, Kate. "The Story of an Hour." The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing. 10th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000. 1. Rpt. in N.p.: n.p., 1894. 15-17. Print.