Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis Essay

The story of an hour describes several emotional stages that a woman undergoes after she learns about her husband’s death. The unexpected changes in her emotions lead the authors to view her differently as the story proceeds. Kate Chopin, the author of The Story of an hour, suggests that all human relationships, in this case the marriage, is oppressive, either intentionally or unintentionally, in its nature, and that the idea of freedom is forbidden, though people long for it. Her sophisticated characterization of Louise, along with her detailed explanation of Louise’ feelings, strengthens the author’s message. That Louise has a heart trouble is the first thing that the I learn about her. Because a person with heart disease cannot be shocked
or emotional, I feel worried when Louise first learns about her husband’s death. As expected, Louise sobs over her husband’s death. “The sudden, wild abandonment” and “the storm of grief” she feels indicate that Louise’s reaction is stronger than those of other women. When Louise “[goes] away to her room alone […] and [has] no one to follow her”, the readers believe that she is so surprised that she removes herself from the world. Her need of isolation is perfectly understandable as she has received an unexpected announcement and thus, she needs time to clear her mind. Until here, I felt sorry for Louise’s loss of husband.
However, her next state of emotion is not expected. As she looks out of the window, she sees an opportunity of independence, as indicated by “blue sky, new spring life”. In literature, spring usually symbolizes new life and, in a broader concept, rebirth. In the context, it portrays the independence Louise will get because of her husband’s death. This is the first hint that tells me she is different from other women. Through the window, Louise sees something that other women in her situation might see differently. From here, my impression of her changed from an abandoned widow to a woman with sovereignty. Another hint that shows her desire for the unacceptable freedom is given at the tenth paragraph. At first, Louise tries to ignore the sense of independence by “striving to beat it back with her will”. Her purposeful rejection of independence suggests the pleasure is prohibited. However, “when she [abandons] herself a little whispered word [escapes] her parted lips,” which is “free, free, free.” The word ‘escapes” effectively portrays how much she has wanted independence, and when she finally gets it, she is so overwhelmed that she cannot control herself. When Louise finally admits the independence, “her pulses beat fast”. As she has a heart disease, the changes in her heart rates indicates that she is excited and elated by the idea of freedom. When her sister keeps knocking on the door, Louise finally “[arises] at length and opened the door.” The phrase “at lengths’ shows that Louise wants to imagine the freedom for a long time uninterfered and that a mere imagination of it can enliven her.
My impression of her changed once more after reading the following paragraphs.
The latter part of the story shows that Louise is well aware of the social expectation as well as her expected reaction upon her husband’s death. Yet, she cannot help but feel elated in the deepest part of her. Louise “[knows] that she will weep again when she [sees] the kin, tendered hands folded in death” yet “she [sees’ that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that will belong to her absolutely.” Louis will sob in front of others, just as all other women will, but when she is solely by herself, she cannot help but be excited by the upcoming independence. Louise is not a woman who merely hopes for freedom but one that knows how to behave according to the will of
society.
Her death due to the sudden appearance of her husband makes her a miserable woman, who died because her dream that awaits her will never come true. That the doctor claims that Louise dies of joy further strengthens my sympathy for her. Her short, but enough to enliven her, stays as an imagination that is not shared by anyone else.
Her death emphasizes the theme that the idea of freedom is prohibited in human relationships, in this case marriage.
Throughout the passage, Louise’s reaction changes from, rejection of the idea of freedom, to recognition of the pleasure, and finally to her desire to gain the forbidden independence. In the ninth paragraph, “she [does not know]” what is coming toward her. This sentence suggests that freedom is not offered in her life. The words “whispered word”, “escaped”, “slightly”, “under the breath” also hint that Louise is fully aware that she is not allowed to think about freedom. In the eleventh paragraph, Louise knows that “she will weep again when she [sees] the kind, tender hands folded in death”. Louise’s recognition that her husband is not oppressing nor mistreating put a stronger emphasis on the theme. Even though her partner is a kind man, she is still desirous of freedom, showing that a human being puts more importance on one’s independence than on another individual. The ending of the story, in which Louise cannot gain freedom while alive but utterly achieves her dream with death, puts forth the author’s message that people seek for freedom, but the idea of independence will only remain as a mere
illusion.