What Does The Opened Window Symbolize In The Story Of An Hour
According to Kojien, a symbol is “an effect that relates two originally unrelated things by some similarities, for example, white represents purity and black represents sorrow”. One of the two originally unrelated things is a concrete thing, and the other is an abstract thing. In literature, readers can find such a symbol that usually shows character’s feelings or a situation of the story. This essay will refer two symbols in a short story, “The Story of an Hour”, written by an American author, Kate Chopin in 1984, and focus on Mrs. Mallard’s feelings and behavior. In this story, by the act of paying attention to Mrs. Mallard’s feelings and behaviors, readers can find the two symbols; ‘opened window’ and ‘heart trouble’.
First, ‘opened window’ …show more content…
From the 9th paragraph, “She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength. But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away …show more content…
Mallard’s both delighted feelings and hopeless feelings. The delighted feelings can be found at the 11th paragraph, “Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.” (3-5 line). In this situation, she already realized that she got freedom, and this expression let readers know her heart’s condition was better. The hopeless feelings can be seen the last sentence, “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease—of joy that kills.” This means that all of people around Mrs. Mallard thought that she died because she was extremely happy to see her husband alive, and that gave too strong influence on her heart disease. However, indeed, she died because of loss of freedom. The author, Chopin used the word ‘heart trouble’ at first, but used the word ‘heart disease’, so it can be said that Mrs. Mallard was a sad person who died without understanding by people. She had complicated feelings between her husband’s death and the desire for freedom. The symbol ‘heart trouble’ was not only related to her physical health, but also related to her mental
First, ‘opened window’ …show more content…
From the 9th paragraph, “She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength. But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away …show more content…
Mallard’s both delighted feelings and hopeless feelings. The delighted feelings can be found at the 11th paragraph, “Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.” (3-5 line). In this situation, she already realized that she got freedom, and this expression let readers know her heart’s condition was better. The hopeless feelings can be seen the last sentence, “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease—of joy that kills.” This means that all of people around Mrs. Mallard thought that she died because she was extremely happy to see her husband alive, and that gave too strong influence on her heart disease. However, indeed, she died because of loss of freedom. The author, Chopin used the word ‘heart trouble’ at first, but used the word ‘heart disease’, so it can be said that Mrs. Mallard was a sad person who died without understanding by people. She had complicated feelings between her husband’s death and the desire for freedom. The symbol ‘heart trouble’ was not only related to her physical health, but also related to her mental