Suspense, Shock, And Surprise In 'The Story Of An Hour'
Brittany Triplett
Analysis 1
English 102-038
20 February 2014
Analysis 1: Suspense, Shock, and Surprise in “The Story of an Hour””
Within the nation’s quick process of industrialization and urbanization inspired many economic, political, and social reforms. Such significant events such as both the women’s suffrage and temperance movements were led by middle-class women, hoping to better their own situations and lifestyles. Some of the issues women had faced during the Progressive Era included: working within and outside of their home, the marriage law, violence, and divorce. “In these decades, it was very normal for married white women to work as a full time manager of their home and the servants within it.” However, several decades after the Civil War also known as “War Between the States”, all women of all classes and races were kept busy making a lot of their own clothing as well as their households’ clothing and food, quilts, curtains, etc. …show more content…
One of the admirable aspects of “The Story of an Hour” is the fact that the author is able to influence suspense, shock and surprise in a tale that is “extraordinarily compact”.
In the Story of an Hour, it seems that the women are always inside of Mallards house while the men are able to come and leave as they please, which means the story takes place within the Mallards’ house because women were pretty much housewives. Although, their home is barely described: there’s more than one floor, because there is a staircase inside of the home; the doors have locks; and Mrs. Mallard has her own room, where “a comfortable, roomy armchair” is described, but we are not sure of the color or what it is made
of. The story also suggests that Mrs. Mallard seems to be pretty confined to the house, because of her medical condition. Her sister Josephine, seems to be pretty comfortable there. It could be that Mrs. Mallard is afraid of the “outside world”. Notably, Mrs. Mallard wants to be alone to take in her husband’s death; she goes deep into the house and straight to her own room locking the door to do so. Turns out, that while the world outside initially seems more dangerous it might actually be safer. It’s where Mr. Mallard apparently gets killed in a railroad accident that is considered dangerous. So while it seems that the outside world is dangerous for some people, the connotation seems that it isn’t dangerous for those we care about. But there is no escaping death when it comes for you. Even though Mrs. Mallard is in her commonplace, because of the delicacy of her heart she ends up being in danger wherever she goes, or stays.
WORK CITED
Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. Vogue., 1894.Print.
Mays, Kelly J., ed. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Shorter 11th ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2013. Print.
Analysis 1
English 102-038
20 February 2014
Analysis 1: Suspense, Shock, and Surprise in “The Story of an Hour””
Within the nation’s quick process of industrialization and urbanization inspired many economic, political, and social reforms. Such significant events such as both the women’s suffrage and temperance movements were led by middle-class women, hoping to better their own situations and lifestyles. Some of the issues women had faced during the Progressive Era included: working within and outside of their home, the marriage law, violence, and divorce. “In these decades, it was very normal for married white women to work as a full time manager of their home and the servants within it.” However, several decades after the Civil War also known as “War Between the States”, all women of all classes and races were kept busy making a lot of their own clothing as well as their households’ clothing and food, quilts, curtains, etc. …show more content…
One of the admirable aspects of “The Story of an Hour” is the fact that the author is able to influence suspense, shock and surprise in a tale that is “extraordinarily compact”.
In the Story of an Hour, it seems that the women are always inside of Mallards house while the men are able to come and leave as they please, which means the story takes place within the Mallards’ house because women were pretty much housewives. Although, their home is barely described: there’s more than one floor, because there is a staircase inside of the home; the doors have locks; and Mrs. Mallard has her own room, where “a comfortable, roomy armchair” is described, but we are not sure of the color or what it is made
of. The story also suggests that Mrs. Mallard seems to be pretty confined to the house, because of her medical condition. Her sister Josephine, seems to be pretty comfortable there. It could be that Mrs. Mallard is afraid of the “outside world”. Notably, Mrs. Mallard wants to be alone to take in her husband’s death; she goes deep into the house and straight to her own room locking the door to do so. Turns out, that while the world outside initially seems more dangerous it might actually be safer. It’s where Mr. Mallard apparently gets killed in a railroad accident that is considered dangerous. So while it seems that the outside world is dangerous for some people, the connotation seems that it isn’t dangerous for those we care about. But there is no escaping death when it comes for you. Even though Mrs. Mallard is in her commonplace, because of the delicacy of her heart she ends up being in danger wherever she goes, or stays.
WORK CITED
Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. Vogue., 1894.Print.
Mays, Kelly J., ed. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Shorter 11th ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2013. Print.