the Story of an Hour

Jose Lopez
Dr. Kent Harrelson
English 1102
April 8, 2013
Analysis of Mrs. Mallard's personality in “The Story of an Hour”
Marriage is a relationship based on love which requires care, cultivation and defense every day. However, there are times in which the relationship between a wife and her Spouse is merely a slave and master-and. Life in the 1800's was rather difficult for some women to deal with because society restricted women just because there was a general idea that they should not be doing any kind of physical work outside of the house and were not allowed to vote. Women were expected to stay at home to cook and raise the children. Such a lady who had to deal with these restrictions and demands was Mrs. Mallard. She had heart trouble. But her heart trouble was not only of a physical condition but is also emotional desire for freedom. In Kate Chopin’s short story “The story of an hour”, Mrs. Mallard personality deals with the issues of her identity, the passion to live with freedom, and the reaction of lose everything.
Story of an Hour reminds one that life is unpredictable and full of surprises. When a woman is told that her husband has passed away, it is interesting to see how “this became a ticket to her freedom, not so much physical, nor social, but psychological”. (James p112-120). Why this psychologically became in a ticket to her freedom? Mrs. Mallard's identity has always been as a wife, not as a person. It was almost as if she were in bondage in her own home. Now with her husband dead, she begins to realize she will no longer have to be subjected to her husband's will. Also, although her husband did not appear to be abusive, the reader intuitively understands that Mrs. Mallard felt oppressed in her marriage and now, for the first time ever, she feels “the possibility of constructing her own identity and identifying possibilities for her own future” (Xuemei 2 April 2013). Mrs. Mallard may have loved her husband at times. However, when realizing that she could be metaphorically set free, it did not matter to her anymore. Her husband was dead. Now, she any more will be forced into the identity role of fearful and powerless wife in which she never see a point in living. Finally, After she speaks the words "free, free, free" (line 11), she realizes she is now in control of her life, and that she will never have to do what her husband's wishes and society's expected. Although the circumstances might lead the reader to believe that Mrs. Mallard’s husband death would cause her great pain, ironically, when she hears the news, she feels a great sense of relief.
The death of her husband in Mrs. Mallard revives the will to live. Mrs. Mallard did not react with paralyzed shock as many others would have but rather, with a storm of grief. Mallard's initial response shows that she is a passionate woman, unafraid of intense emotions or expressing them in public. Moreover, the way Mallard deals with the death of her husband exhibits “her inner strength and self-sufficiency” (Reed pg 29-44). It is precisely her inner strength and self-sufficiency that cause her to feel excited at the prospect of living her life alone. Another thing that makes Mrs. Mallard deals with the issue of her passion for freedom is due to the spring time because she experiences a reborn. Mrs. Mallard believes she will become productive and energized. Although perhaps her passion for living can adds some irony to the story, she can be present at her husband's funeral but being able to look past that grim moment and look forward to “the years to come” (line 13) that would belong to her absolutely. Finally, Mrs. Mallard's choice in dealing with her husband's death in a constructive and proactive manner indicates that she has suppressed her innate strength and self-reliance throughout the course of her marriage. Mrs. Mallard was now recognizing the force that had seized her being, yet she was unconscientiously willing to push it away as the thought of leaving her husband in the past seemed unorthodox and sinister to her. However, becoming her union with her husband at oppressed marriage, she guiltily fought her doubts, finally accepting the freedom that she could soon acquire.
Finally, Chopin short story "Story of an Hour" explores a woman unexpected reaction's to her husband's assumed death and reappearance. Mrs. Mallard compasses herself and comes out of her bedroom to make an appearance downstairs again. As she walks down the stairs Mrs. Mallard gets “the surprise of her life” (Selina p215). When she is beginning to savor the sweet sense of freedom, her husband shows up at their house alive. It was not a good thing for her to see her husband alive because this has killed her, she realized that now she was not going to be free and would have to continue more pain by spending the rest of her life with him. Finally, Mrs. Mallard also deals with the issue of losing all her new dreams and died. When she sees him, she dies, not from the "joy that kills" (line 15), but because she is heart-broken and shocked at the reality. This is too much for Mrs. Mallard to handle. Why did she die? Because she was already convinced of his death and felt relief to be free, perhaps for the first time in her life. But all her plans are thwarted once again, and she know that all hope of freedom is gone. She cannot survive it because the crushing disappointment killed her.
Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a great piece of literature which expresses the liberty that the protagonist desires. Freedom of body and soul is the most important right any person can have. Unfortunately, often times the freedom of a woman is infringed upon by her husband; a person who is supposedly held so sacred and dear. In “The Story of an Hour,” by Kate Chopin, Mrs. Mallard is suddenly surprised to find herself in a situation of freedom after years of spousal oppression. The surprise that fell on Mrs. Mallard was unwanted at first only because it was unexpected. However, towards the end she found that subconsciously this is what she wanted all along, but for the wrong reasons. This newfound freedom causes a wide array of emotions in the personality of Mrs. Mallard. This short story was written at a time where it was common sense and tradition that women “were inferior to men in status and opportunities” (Berkove p152-158). The Story of an Hour has probably inspired a great deal of women to oppose their husbands if they feel like their marriage isn’t quite as equals as it ought to be.