The Story Of An Hour Feminist Perspective
Much how waves in the ocean are pushed and pulled by the gravity of the moon, similar waves of feminism have been affected by men throughout history. Applying a Feminist Critical Perspective, Kate Chopin's short story, “The Story of an Hour,” refutes ideas of first wave feminism with diction and imagery, along with Mrs. Mallard’s symbolic reaction to her husband’s death and resurgence back into her life. To begin, diction within the story refutes assumed stereotypes of women during the first wave of feminism. Chopin writes that after Mrs. Mallard discovers her husband’s death “[s]he did not hear the story as many women have heard the same,” implying Mrs. Mallard goes against the grain of how women are expected to behave towards losing their
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husband (3). Instead of going into denial like most women, the character becomes instantly devastated. The devastation of the character however is juxtaposed by the setting. The weather is described as “delicious rain,” an odd description of rain to make given the circumstances so far in the plot (5). The imagery created without Chopin’s diction would suggest sadness, but the rain’s deliciousness implies positivity. Such an implication also conveys that a woman does not need a man to be content or complete, refuting first wave feminism. Furthermore, descriptions of nature imply that Mrs. Mallard breaks standards put onto women. For example, “sparrows were twittering” and “patches of blue sky” filled the environment, both descriptions of nature made by Chopin to further pose the idea that Mrs. Mallard is free, and with that independence from men, she becomes radiant and sunny just like her surroundings (5 and 6). As a whole, specific diction chosen by Chopin refute how women in patriarchal society respond to dependence. Furthermore, Mrs.
Mallard’s symbolic epiphany to her husband’s death and return refutes characteristics and views of women during the first wave of feminism. For instance, after deep reflection, Mrs. Mallard ends her devastation. She chants to herself that she is “‘free, free, free!’” (10). Her happiness takes over her body, for she has been emancipated from men. During the first wave of feminism, women were expected to marry men because they are superior and more educated, but in Chopin’s story, Mrs. Mallard is shown to break from the shackles of marriage and dependence. Instead of having to live life in the backseat, always behind a man, she drinks an “elixir of life through [an] open window” ahead of her, symbolizing her newfound freedom by comparing it to an open window (16). Mrs. Mallard is also conveyed to be a person, her own person that can experience life to the fullest through all “those days ahead of her,” instead of being subject to wifehood for the rest of her life like most women at the time (18). Furthermore, feeling such joy, she prays for a long life free from a man, a wish that most women in the first wave of feminism would never dream of. The woman expected to be the damsel in distress, especially considering her heart condition, turns out to be her own savior. But in patriarchal society, a woman’s joy outside of a man is ephemeral. The idea is communicated when Mrs. Mallard’s husband returns, bringing her back to Earth and back to reality. Mrs. Mallard
did not let patriarchal society get the best of her however, because she died after her rendezvous with her husband. Chopin states that she died “of the joy that kills,” a happiness not granted to her by her husband’s return, but by feeling free (22). Mrs. Mallard’s death defies the idea that women are truly happy when married because Mrs. Mallard’s passing conveys just the opposite. That said, Mrs. Mallard’s rejoice by her husband’s death and her subsequent death by his return communicates a nuanced idea of independence empowering women within patriarchal society. Analyzing Chopin’s short story through a Feminist Critical lense with diction, imagery, and symbolism in mind helps break stereotypes set in place by first wave feminism . “The Story of an Hour” defies first wave feminist ideas dictating that women are reliant on men and that they can only be happy when adapting to their stereotypical roles in patriarchal society. That said, no matter what way men decide where the waves should go, a woman knows best about herself and deserves the happiness that comes from taking control of one’s own life.
husband (3). Instead of going into denial like most women, the character becomes instantly devastated. The devastation of the character however is juxtaposed by the setting. The weather is described as “delicious rain,” an odd description of rain to make given the circumstances so far in the plot (5). The imagery created without Chopin’s diction would suggest sadness, but the rain’s deliciousness implies positivity. Such an implication also conveys that a woman does not need a man to be content or complete, refuting first wave feminism. Furthermore, descriptions of nature imply that Mrs. Mallard breaks standards put onto women. For example, “sparrows were twittering” and “patches of blue sky” filled the environment, both descriptions of nature made by Chopin to further pose the idea that Mrs. Mallard is free, and with that independence from men, she becomes radiant and sunny just like her surroundings (5 and 6). As a whole, specific diction chosen by Chopin refute how women in patriarchal society respond to dependence. Furthermore, Mrs.
Mallard’s symbolic epiphany to her husband’s death and return refutes characteristics and views of women during the first wave of feminism. For instance, after deep reflection, Mrs. Mallard ends her devastation. She chants to herself that she is “‘free, free, free!’” (10). Her happiness takes over her body, for she has been emancipated from men. During the first wave of feminism, women were expected to marry men because they are superior and more educated, but in Chopin’s story, Mrs. Mallard is shown to break from the shackles of marriage and dependence. Instead of having to live life in the backseat, always behind a man, she drinks an “elixir of life through [an] open window” ahead of her, symbolizing her newfound freedom by comparing it to an open window (16). Mrs. Mallard is also conveyed to be a person, her own person that can experience life to the fullest through all “those days ahead of her,” instead of being subject to wifehood for the rest of her life like most women at the time (18). Furthermore, feeling such joy, she prays for a long life free from a man, a wish that most women in the first wave of feminism would never dream of. The woman expected to be the damsel in distress, especially considering her heart condition, turns out to be her own savior. But in patriarchal society, a woman’s joy outside of a man is ephemeral. The idea is communicated when Mrs. Mallard’s husband returns, bringing her back to Earth and back to reality. Mrs. Mallard
did not let patriarchal society get the best of her however, because she died after her rendezvous with her husband. Chopin states that she died “of the joy that kills,” a happiness not granted to her by her husband’s return, but by feeling free (22). Mrs. Mallard’s death defies the idea that women are truly happy when married because Mrs. Mallard’s passing conveys just the opposite. That said, Mrs. Mallard’s rejoice by her husband’s death and her subsequent death by his return communicates a nuanced idea of independence empowering women within patriarchal society. Analyzing Chopin’s short story through a Feminist Critical lense with diction, imagery, and symbolism in mind helps break stereotypes set in place by first wave feminism . “The Story of an Hour” defies first wave feminist ideas dictating that women are reliant on men and that they can only be happy when adapting to their stereotypical roles in patriarchal society. That said, no matter what way men decide where the waves should go, a woman knows best about herself and deserves the happiness that comes from taking control of one’s own life.