Theme Of Alienation In Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin
In the “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin there are many symbols used to depict the two themes of alienation and the quest for one’s own identity. Each of the symbols develop a deeper meaning to each of those themes. Kate Chopin’s use of symbols gave deeper meanings to the alienation that Louise felt and quest for identity that she needed and wanted.
The feeling of alienation is one theme in Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour”. First of all the theme of alienation is when a character’s attempt to define their relationship with society leads them to alienation from their true identity. There is a few minutes of freedom from male oppression (from her husband), because in this time women lived in a society that denied them the same rights as men …show more content…
An open window in literature is a sign of transformation or change (www.go.view.usg.edu). From the window, Louise sees a blue sky, fluffy clouds, and treetops. She hears people and birds singing and smells a coming rainstorm. Everything she experiences through her senses suggests joy and spring-new life. When she ponders the sky, is when she feels the first hints of happiness. When it says in the story, “But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought.”(Chopin) The open window provides a clear, bright view into the distance and Louise’s own bright future, which would now be uninterrupted by the demands of her husband. As it said in the story, “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.”(Chopin) Therefore, it was not surprising that when Louise turned from the window and the view, she quickly loses her freedom as well.
In conclusion, the “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin uses the symbols of heart trouble and the open window to derive into the deeper meaning of the two themes of alienation and the quest for identity. They both lead Louise to lose her freedom that she thought about , but never really got. Those symbols were used to depict
The feeling of alienation is one theme in Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour”. First of all the theme of alienation is when a character’s attempt to define their relationship with society leads them to alienation from their true identity. There is a few minutes of freedom from male oppression (from her husband), because in this time women lived in a society that denied them the same rights as men …show more content…
An open window in literature is a sign of transformation or change (www.go.view.usg.edu). From the window, Louise sees a blue sky, fluffy clouds, and treetops. She hears people and birds singing and smells a coming rainstorm. Everything she experiences through her senses suggests joy and spring-new life. When she ponders the sky, is when she feels the first hints of happiness. When it says in the story, “But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought.”(Chopin) The open window provides a clear, bright view into the distance and Louise’s own bright future, which would now be uninterrupted by the demands of her husband. As it said in the story, “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.”(Chopin) Therefore, it was not surprising that when Louise turned from the window and the view, she quickly loses her freedom as well.
In conclusion, the “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin uses the symbols of heart trouble and the open window to derive into the deeper meaning of the two themes of alienation and the quest for identity. They both lead Louise to lose her freedom that she thought about , but never really got. Those symbols were used to depict