Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

“The Story of an Hour,” written by Kate Chopin, is set in the last decade of the 19th century. In the story, a woman, Louise Mallard, learns of her husband’s death in a rail accident from a close friend. As the story develops, Mrs. Mallard copes with her husband’s death in many ways. The setting and time period of the story affect the reader much more than any of the other elements of fiction, and life in the 1890s was drastically different than the life we know today. Therefore, if it is not understood how life in the 19th century was for women, it would be hard to understand the purpose and effect this story would have on readers of that time. Women throughout history have felt the pressure and anxiety to live up to standards set forth by
Jamil writes “For one hour of emotion, Louise does glimpse meaning and fulfillment” (para. 12). What she does not realize is that there is no freedom waiting for her on the other side of Brently’s death. . Women in the 19th century were just beginning to work outside of the house with men; however, it was rare for them to be able to support themselves on the wages that they would have made (Collins.) Even if Louise began working, she would either have to marry another man, or move in with her father to survive, placing her in a position of submission once again. Louise is excited that “there would be no one to live for those coming years; she would live for herself” (Chopin 23); however, “[she] will have gained autonomy only to find she has no life to lead” (Cunningham 11.) Although she feels that her sense of independence can no longer be smothered, Louise will soon realize, when she tries to enter the job market as a single woman, that she is incapable of being totally free from male
1st ed. Boston: Pearson, 2011. 22-23. Print. Collins, G. America 's women, four hundred years of dolls, drudges, helpmates, and heroines. 1st. New York, New York: Harper Perennial, 2004. Print. Cunningham, Mark. "The Autonomous Female Self And The Death Of Louise Mallard In Kate Chopin 's "Story Of An Hour.." English Language Notes 42.1 (2004): 48-55. Humanities International Complete. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. Jamil, S. Selina. "Emotions in The Story of an Hour.(Critical essay)." The Explicator. Taylor & Francis Ltd. 2009. HighBeam Research. 19 Mar. 2013 . Smith-Rosinburg, Carroll. "The Hysterical Woman: Sex Roles and Role Conflict in 19th-Century America." Social Research . 39.4 (1972): 652-678. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. Toth, Emily. Unveiling Kate Chopin. Univ Pr of Mississippi, 1999.