The Story of an Hour Themes and Literary Elements 
The Story of an Hour Themes and Literary Elements
Lora Cruse
Ashford university ENG125
November, 14 2014
The major theme in Kate Chopin 's “The Story of an Hour” is freedom. In the beginning of the
story the scene opens up and we are introduced to Mrs. Mallard who has been told that her husband
has died in a horrible train wreck, Mrs. mallard reacts to the news like any other wife would. Yes, she
is upset so she excuses herself and rushes off to her bedroom to be away from everyone who has come
to see her. While in the room we as the reader see a completely different side of Mrs. Mallard. She, in
some sense, is happy; yes she is upset that her husband has died, however she now has this new found
freedom that she did not have before.
When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under the breath. “free, fee, free!”
The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright.
Her pulses beat fat, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.
(Chopin 1)
Here for the first time you see Mrs. mallard coming out of her shell, once she is behind closed
doors she can truly express what she is feeling. Mrs. mallard, in some sense, knows her place; she
knows that she dared not express these types of feelings in front of her family and friends. In some
sense she knows her place in society and even though her husband has died she is still supposed to
keep that stature of a woman in that time period.
Mrs. mallard has now been reborn. She is now free, free from the shadow of her husband. Mrs.
mallard is up in her room, she is standing in front of her window and everything around her is in full
bloom, spring has arrived. Winter has now died and spring has now been born. In some sense the same
applies for Mrs. Mallard, the winter being her husband and
Lora Cruse
Ashford university ENG125
November, 14 2014
The major theme in Kate Chopin 's “The Story of an Hour” is freedom. In the beginning of the
story the scene opens up and we are introduced to Mrs. Mallard who has been told that her husband
has died in a horrible train wreck, Mrs. mallard reacts to the news like any other wife would. Yes, she
is upset so she excuses herself and rushes off to her bedroom to be away from everyone who has come
to see her. While in the room we as the reader see a completely different side of Mrs. Mallard. She, in
some sense, is happy; yes she is upset that her husband has died, however she now has this new found
freedom that she did not have before.
When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under the breath. “free, fee, free!”
The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright.
Her pulses beat fat, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.
(Chopin 1)
Here for the first time you see Mrs. mallard coming out of her shell, once she is behind closed
doors she can truly express what she is feeling. Mrs. mallard, in some sense, knows her place; she
knows that she dared not express these types of feelings in front of her family and friends. In some
sense she knows her place in society and even though her husband has died she is still supposed to
keep that stature of a woman in that time period.
Mrs. mallard has now been reborn. She is now free, free from the shadow of her husband. Mrs.
mallard is up in her room, she is standing in front of her window and everything around her is in full
bloom, spring has arrived. Winter has now died and spring has now been born. In some sense the same
applies for Mrs. Mallard, the winter being her husband and
Bibliography: Schmoop Editorial Team. (2008, November 11) The Story of an Hour Theme of Freedom and Confinement .Retrieved November 12 2014 from http:/schmoop.com/story- of-hour/freedom-confinement-theme.html Sparknotes Editors. (2007). Sparknote on the Story of an Hour. Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://m.sparknotes,com/short-stories/the-story-of-an-hour/ +