- The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin Words: 855
- Mrs. Mallard in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin Words: 1007
- The Yellow Wallpaper and The Story of an Hour Comparison Words: 1877
- Freedom in Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour” Words: 2229
- Symbolism in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin Words: 624
- The Forbidden Fruit in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin Words: 607
- Unhappy Marriage in “The Story of an Hour” by K. Chopin Words: 1219
- American Fiction: “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin Words: 892
- The Story of an Hour and The Storm by Kate Chopin Words: 833
- Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” Analysis Words: 932
- Irony at the End of The Story of an Hour Words: 600
- Literary Style of Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” Words: 1237
- Fiction Elements in Chopin’s The Story of an Hour Words: 599
- Trappings of Marriage in Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” Words: 1114
- Ambiguity and Irony in “The Story of an Hour” Words: 552
- Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” vs. Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” Comparison Words: 1100
- Literary Analysis of Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” Words: 890
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The Story of an Hour Analysis & Summary – Essay Example
This sample will help you write a The Story of an Hour analysis essay! Here you’ll find a The Story of an Hour summary. Essay also contains a plot and character analysis.
Introduction
The story of an hour introduction, the story of an hour main plot, the story of an hour conclusion, the story of an hour analysis.
The Story of an Hour is a short story written by Kate Chopin in 1894. This famous piece of literature was controversial for its time, as the story mentioned a female protagonist who felt relieved after her husband’s death. The conclusion of The Story of an Hour is ironic, which makes the ending memorable.
The following The Story of an Hour literary analysis essay will summarize the plot and present an extensive character analysis of Mrs. Mallard. It will be helpful for those writing a The Story of an Hour critical analysis.
Kate Chopin (born Catherine O’Flaherty) was an American writer. She is best known for her narratives of delicate and brave women’s inner lives. Her novel “The Awakening” and her short stories, among them The Story of an Hour, are being read in countries all over the world today. She is widely recognized as one of the most important authors in America.
In 1984, Kate Chopin wrote The Story of an Hour. It portrays a woman, Louise Mallard, who lost her husband in an accident. However, she later discovers that the husband survived. Mrs. Mallard goes through many emotions and feelings, reevaluating her life. That ultimately kills her when she meets her presumably dead husband at the door. The following The Story of an Hour essay will focus on the plot and the protagonist’s self-development.
The Story of an Hour Summary
Louise Mallard, the main character, had always had a heart problem. It was not a secret for her friends and relatives, so everyone tried to protect her from worries.
One day her husband, Brently Mallard, was mistaken for having died in a horrible railroad accident. Richard, Mr. Mallard’s friend, was the one who learned about this death while in the office. Josephine, Louise’s sister, broke the news to her.
Josephine was very cautious because of Mrs. Mallard’s health issue. She feared such a tragedy would cause a heart attack. Bit by bit, she strategized how to tell everything to her sister, aher plan went perfectly well. Mrs. Mallard wept only once. She did not receive the story like many women would, with a helpless incapacity to acknowledge its meaning. She only cried in her sister’s arms with a feeling of a sudden, wild abandonment (Woodlief 2).
Immediately Mrs. Mallard found herself wondering how she could survive without her husband. She went to a room and locked herself to contemplate the consequences of his death. She was devastated, and this sadness was only natural. This man had been close to her, even though only for a short time. Her sister Josephine and Mr. Richard also mourned the loss (Taibah 1).
Mrs. Mallard was alone in that room, thinking about the future. As she was contemplating her fate, instead of grief, she began realizing that this was the beginning of a better part of her life. Louise saw independence and plenty of possibilities to do what her heart desired. Now, she had only to think about herself.
Later, Josephine comes to Louise’s room, crying with a joyous smile. They descend the house’s stairs, where Mr. Mallard appears at the door. He was not involved in the accident and did not understand why Josephine was crying. At the shock of seeing her husband again, Mrs. Mallard collapses. The doctors declare that she died because of the problems with her heart.
Health issues of the central character play a significant role in the story. The author managed to bring suspense in the way she described telling the bad news to a person with a heart problem. Josephine, Louise’s sister, tries her best to be careful and attentive, expecting a painful response. However, Mrs. Mallard reacts better than anticipated.
The story focuses mostly on femininity and the institution of marriage. The analysis of The Story of an Hour has to speculate on it to reveal the core message.
The author was able to illustrate that men entirely dominate the institution of marriage. Mr. Mallard, for instance, treated his wife the way she wanted only from time to time. For years, Louise has done many things to please her husband without looking after her well-being. So, having received the disturbing news, she is quite happy. It seemed that she had never cared for her husband at all.
Or did she? Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to the death of a spouse is complicated. She cannot escape the loneliness and grief that came with the loss. But the possibility of happiness prevails. Louise knew that marriage had made her a subject for him against her will. She only felt sorrow for the loss of his life but not for living without him. She felt deep inside that she had been freed from the chains of living for another person.
Mr. Mallard’s apparent death saddened Louise at first. She was devastated about his fate but regained strength quickly. Louise was well aware of the fact that she could not bring her husband back. So, she came to terms with it, which wasn’t difficult. Mrs. Mallard saw beyond the painful moment, anticipating freedom for the rest of her life.
The room and environment around Mrs. Mallard symbolize her desire for freedom. For example, Mrs. Mallard could see the tops of trees through the window. They were all aquiver with the new spring life on the open square before her house. There was a delicious breath of rain in the air. A peddler was weeping his wares in the street below. There were spots of blue sky showing up here and there through the clouds in the west facing her window, which had met and piled up one above the other (Woodlief 1).
An open window could be interpreted as a metaphor. It reflects new possibilities and resources that Mrs. Mallard now had in her sights without anybody stopping her. She referred to it as the late spring of life.
The story reveals how women were secretly marginalized. At the time, society expected them to pursue wealth and safety, which came with a husband. Liberty should be neither their worry nor their goal. When Louise felt freedom after Mr. Mallard’s death, she kept it secret for obvious reasons. But then, her sister arrived.
Mrs. Mallard was shocked by the sight of her husband alive. All of her newfound liberty and dreams came crashing down at that moment. This shattering experience even goes to the extreme of destroying her life. Whereas she was to be happy to see her husband alive, Louise died from a heart attack.
Situational irony is presented in the author’s stylistic use of words: “She had died of heart disease…of the joy that kills.” People around anticipated this tragedy from the news about Mr. Mallard’s death, not miraculous survival.
The author explored the character of Mrs. Mallard throughout this story. The reader can’t be surprised by her sudden death or miss its irony. Louise is a woman with a great desire for independence, which a man has deprived her of through marriage. Mr. Mallard represents the absence of her liberty that restores after his death. When Mrs. Mallard sees her husband at the door once again, she collapses and never wakes up.
Based on this The Story of an Hour literary analysis, we can draw several important conclusions. Mrs. Mallard couldn’t control her emotions when they concerned the most vital matters. The lack of liberty and independence may have caused her heart problems in the first place. And they cost her life in the end.
Her husband, Mr. Mallard, took Louise’s freedom when he married her. However, as it became apparent from the story, he never valued her. When she died, he had finally faced the consequences of always taking her existence for granted.
Therefore, the oppressor faced even worse tragedy than the oppressed. The dramatic irony of Mr. Mallard’s unawareness of his wife’s true feelings towards him is a big part of the story. So, in the end, it was Mr. Mallard’s presence that killed his wife.
- Chopin, Kate. The Story of an hour . The Kate Chopin International Society. Web.
- Woodlief, Ann. The Story of an Hour . 2011, Virginia Commonwealth University. Web.
What is the symbolism in The Story of an Hour?
Through The Story of an Hour, the author presents us with the inner feelings and thoughts of a woman using various symbols. Mrs. Mallard’s heart problem symbolizes her dissatisfaction with the marriage, while the open window illustrates her aspirations towards a better, independent life.
What is the meaning behind The Story of an Hour?
Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour analysis illustrates that the author wanted to tell us how the society of that time was unfair towards women. It also shows the delicate and complicated inner world of a woman.
What does The Story of an Hour critique?
The Story of an Hour criticizes the typical experience of marriage in the 1890s. For women, such marriage was repressive and meant their loss of personal freedoms. Therefore, the story criticizes the society of that time dominated by men.
How do you start a critical analysis of The Story of an Hour?
Start your analysis of The Story of an Hour with a short introduction. Remember to say a few words about its author and her life. Next, talk about the story and let the reader know what it is about.
What are the two main themes in The Story of an Hour?
Firstly, the theme of a female search for self-identity is featured strongly in the story. The second theme is that of repressive marriage. The reader sees it in the way Mrs. Mallard’s reaction toward her husband’s death shifts.
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Home › Literature › Analysis of Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour
Analysis of Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour
By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on July 28, 2021
Originally entitled “The Dream of an Hour” when it was first published in Vogue (December 1894), “The Story of an Hour” has since become one of Kate Chopin’s most frequently anthologized stories. Among her shortest and most daring works, “Story” examines issues of feminism, namely, a woman’s dissatisfaction in a conventional marriage and her desire for independence. It also features Chopin’s characteristic irony and ambiguity .
The story begins with Louise Mallard’s being told about her husband’s presumed death in a train accident. Louise initially weeps with wild abandon, then retires alone to her upstairs bedroom. As she sits facing the open window, observing the new spring life outside, she realizes with a “clear and exalted perception” that she is now free of her husband’s “powerful will bending hers” (353). She becomes delirious with the prospect that she can now live for herself and prays that her life may be long. Her newfound independence is short-lived, however. In a surprise ending, her husband walks through the front door, and Louise suffers a heart attack and dies. Her death may be considered a tragic defeat or a pyrrhic victory for a woman who would rather die than lose that “possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being” (353). The doctors ironically attribute her death to the “joy that kills” (354).
BIBLIOGRAPHY Chopin, Kate. The Complete Works of Kate Chopin. Edited by Per Seyersted. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1969. Koloski, Bernard. Kate Chopin: A Study of the Short Fiction. New York: Twayne, 1996. Seyersted, Per. Kate Chopin: A Critical Biography. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1969. Toth, Emily. Kate Chopin. New York: Morrow, 1990
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A Summary and Analysis of Kate Chopin’s ‘The Story of an Hour’
By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)
Some short stories can say all they need to do in just a few pages, and Kate Chopin’s three-page 1894 story ‘The Story of an Hour’ (sometimes known as ‘The Dream of an Hour’) is a classic example. Yet those three pages remain tantalisingly ambiguous, perhaps because so little is said, so much merely hinted at. Yet Chopin’s short story is, upon closer inspection, a subtle, studied analysis of death, marriage, and personal wishes.
Written in April 1894 and originally published in Vogue in December of that year, the story focuses on an hour in the life of a married woman who has just learnt that her husband has apparently died.
‘The Story of an Hour’: plot summary
What happens in that brief hour, that story of an hour? A married woman, Mrs Louise Mallard, who has heart trouble, learns that her husband has died in a railroad accident.
Her sister Josephine breaks the news to her; it was her husband’s friend Richards who first heard about the railroad disaster and saw her husband’s name, Brently Mallard, at the top of the list of fatalities. Her first reaction is to weep at the news that her husband is dead; she then takes herself off to her room to be alone.
She sinks into an armchair and finds herself attuned to a series of sensations: the trees outside the window ‘aquiver with the new spring life’, the ‘breath of rain’ in the air; the sound of a peddler crying his wares in the street below. She finds herself going into a sort of trancelike daze, a ‘suspension of intelligent thought’.
Then, gradually, a feeling begins to form within her: a sense of freedom. Now her husband is dead, it seems, she feels free. She dreads seeing her husband’s face (as she knows she must, when she goes to identify the body), but she knows that beyond that lie years and years of her life yet to be lived, and ‘would all belong to her absolutely’.
She reflects that she had loved her husband – sometimes. Sometimes she hadn’t. But now, that didn’t matter: what matters is the ‘self-assertion’, the declaration of independence, that her life alone represents a new start.
But then, her sister Josephine calls from outside the door for her to come out, worried that Louise is making herself ill. But Louise doesn’t feel ill: she feels on top of the world. She used to dread the prospect of living to a ripe old age, but now she welcomes such a prospect. Eventually she opens the door and she and Josephine go back downstairs.
Richards is still down there, waiting for them. Then, there’s a key in the front door and who should enter but … Mrs Mallard’s husband, Brently Mallard.
It turns out he was nowhere near the scene of the railroad accident, and is unharmed! Mrs Mallard is so shocked at his return that she dies, partly because of her heart disease but also, so ‘they’ said, from the unexpected ‘joy’ of her husband’s return.
‘The Story of an Hour’: analysis
In some ways, ‘The Story of an Hour’ prefigures a later story like D. H. Lawrence’s ‘ Odour of Chrysanthemums ’ (1911), which also features a female protagonist whose partner’s death makes her reassess her life with him and to contemplate the complex responses his death has aroused in her.
However, in Lawrence’s story the husband really has died (in a mining accident), whereas in ‘The Story of an Hour’, we find out at the end of the story that Mr Mallard was not involved in the railroad accident and is alive and well. In a shock twist, it is his wife who dies, upon learning that he is still alive.
What should we make of this ‘dream of an hour’? That alternative title is significant, not least because of the ambiguity surrounding the word ‘dream’. Is Louise so plunged into shock by the news of her husband’s apparent death that she begins to hallucinate that she would be better off without him? Is this her way of coping with traumatic news – to try to look for the silver lining in a very black cloud? Or should we analyse ‘dream’ as a sign that she entertains aspirations and ambitions, now her husband is out of the way?
‘The Dream of an Hour’ perhaps inevitably puts us in mind of Kate Chopin’s most famous story, the short novel The Awakening (1899), whose title reflects its female protagonist Edna Pontellier’s growing awareness that there is more to life than her wifely existence.
But Louisa Mallard’s ‘awakening’ remains a dream; when she awakes from it, upon learning that her husband is still alive and all her fancies about her future life have been in vain, she dies.
‘The Story of an Hour’ and modernism
‘The Story of an Hour’ is an early example of the impressionistic method of storytelling which was also being developed by Anton Chekhov around the same time as Chopin, and which would later be used by modernists such as Katherine Mansfield, James Joyce, and Virginia Woolf.
Although the story uses an omniscient third-person narrator, we are shown things from particular character perspectives in a way that reflects their own confusions and erratic thoughts – chiefly, of course, Louisa Mallard’s own.
But this impressionistic style – which is more interested in patterns of thought, daydreaming, and emotional responses to the world than in tightly structured plots – continues right until the end of the story.
Consider the final sentence of the story: ‘When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease – of joy that kills.’ The irony, of course, is that Louisa appears to have accepted her husband’s death and to have taken his demise as a chance to liberate herself from an oppressive marriage (note Chopin’s reference to the lines on her face which ‘bespoke repression and even a certain strength’ – what did she need that strength for, we wonder?).
So it was not joy but disappointment, if anything, that brought on the heart attack that killed her. But the (presumably male) doctors who attended her death would not have assumed any such thing: they would have analysed her death as a result of her love for her husband, and the sheer joy she felt at having him back.
Chopin’s story also foreshadows Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Garden Party’ , and Laura Sheridan’s enigmatic emotional reaction to seeing her first dead body (as with Chopin’s story, a man who has died in an accident). If you enjoyed this analysis of ‘The Story of an Hour’, you might also enjoy Anton Chekhov’s 1900 story ‘At Christmas Time’, to which Chopin’s story has been compared.
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The Story of an Hour: Summary and Analysis
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Imagine a world where women are fighting for unprecedented rights, the economic climate is unpredictable, and new developments in technology are made every year. While this world might sound like the present day, it also describes America in the 1890s .
It was in this world that author Kate Chopin wrote and lived, and many of the issues of the period are reflected in her short story, “The Story of an Hour.” Now, over a century later, the story remains one of Kate Chopin’s most well-known works and continues to shed light on the internal struggle of women who have been denied autonomy.
In this guide to Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” we’ll discuss:
- A brief history of Kate Chopin and America the 1890s
- “The Story of an Hour” summary
- Analysis of the key story elements in “The Story of an Hour,” including themes, characters, and symbols
By the end of this article, you’ll have an expert grasp on Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour.” So let’s get started!
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“The Story of an Hour” Summary
If it’s been a little while since you’ve read Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” it can be hard to remember the important details. This section includes a quick recap, but you can find “The Story of an Hour” PDF and full version here . We recommend you read it again before diving into our analyses in the next section!
For those who just need a refresher, here’s “The Story of an Hour” summary:
Mrs. Louise Mallard is at home when her sister, Josephine, and her husband’s friend, Richards, come to tell her that her husband, Brently Mallard, has been killed in a railroad accident . Richards had been at the newspaper office when the news broke, and he takes Josephine with him to break the news to Louise since they’re afraid of aggravating her heart condition. Upon hearing the news of her husband’s death, Louise is grief-stricken, locks herself in her room, and weeps.
From here, the story shifts in tone. As Louise processes the news of her husband’s death, she realizes something wonderful and terrible at the same time: she is free . At first she’s scared to admit it, but Louise quickly finds peace and joy in her admission. She realizes that, although she will be sad about her husband (“she had loved him—sometimes,” Chopin writes), Louise is excited for the opportunity to live for herself. She keeps repeating the word “free” as she comes to terms with what her husband’s death means for her life.
In the meantime, Josephine sits at Louise’s door, coaxing her to come out because she is worried about Louise’s heart condition. After praying that her life is long-lived, Louise agrees to come out. However, as she comes downstairs, the front door opens to reveal her husband, who had not been killed by the accident at all. Although Richards tries to keep Louise’s heart from shock by shielding her husband from view, Louise dies suddenly, which the doctors later attribute to “heart disease—of the joy that kills .”
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Kate Chopin, the author of "The Story of an Hour," has become one of the most important American writers of the 19th century.
The History of Kate Chopin and the 1890s
Before we move into “The Story of an Hour” analysis section, it’s helpful to know a little bit about Kate Chopin and the world she lived in.
A Short Biography of Kate Chopin
Born in 1850 to wealthy Catholic parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Kate Chopin (originally Kate O’Flaherty) knew hardship from an early age. In 1855, Chopin lost her father, Thomas, when he passed away in a tragic and unexpected railroad accident. The events of this loss would stay with Kate for the rest of her life, eventually becoming the basis for “The Story of an Hour” nearly forty years later.
Chopin was well-educated throughout her childhood , reading voraciously and becoming fluent in French. Chopin was also very aware of the divide between the powerful and the oppressed in society at the time . She grew up during the U.S. Civil War, so she had first-hand knowledge of violence and slavery in the United States.
Chopin was also exposed to non-traditional roles for women through her familial situation. Her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother chose to remain widows (rather than remarry) after their husbands died. Consequently, Chopin learned how important women’s independence could be, and that idea would permeate much of her writing later on.
As Chopin grew older, she became known for her beauty and congeniality by society in St. Louis. She was married at the age of nineteen to Oscar Chopin, who came from a wealthy cotton-growing family. The couple moved to New Orleans, where they would start both a general store and a large family. (Chopin would give birth to seven children over the next nine years!)
While Oscar adored his wife, he was less capable of running a business. Financial trouble forced the family to move around rural Louisiana. Unfortunately, Oscar would die of swamp fever in 1882 , leaving Chopin in heavy debt and with the responsibility of managing the family’s struggling businesses.
After trying her hand at managing the property for a year, Chopin conceded to her mother’s requests to return with her children to St. Louis. Chopin’s mother died the year after. In order to support herself and her children, Kate began to write to support her family.
Luckily, Chopin found immediate success as a writer. Many of her short stories and novels—including her most famous novel, The Awakening— dealt with life in Louisiana . She was also known as a fast and prolific writer, and by the end of the 1900s she had written over 100 stories, articles, and essays.
Unfortunately, Chopin would pass away from a suspected cerebral hemorrhage in 1904, at the age of 54 . But Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and other writings have withstood the test of time. Her work has lived on, and she’s now recognized as one of the most important American writers of the 19th century.
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American life was undergoing significant change in the 19th century. Technology, culture, and even leisure activities were changing.
American Life in the 1890s
“The Story of an Hour” was written and published in 1894, right as the 1800s were coming to a close. As the world moved into the new century, American life was also changing rapidly.
For instance, t he workplace was changing drastically in the 1890s . Gone were the days where most people were expected to work at a trade or on a farm. Factory jobs brought on by industrialization made work more efficient, and many of these factory owners gradually implemented more humane treatment of their workers, giving them more leisure time than ever.
Though the country was in an economic recession at this time, technological changes like electric lighting and the popularization of radios bettered the daily lives of many people and allowed for the creation of new jobs. Notably, however, work was different for women . Working women as a whole were looked down upon by society, no matter why they found themselves in need of a job.
Women who worked while they were married or pregnant were judged even more harshly. Women of Kate Chopin’s social rank were expected to not work at all , sometimes even delegating the responsibility of managing the house or child-rearing to maids or nannies. In the 1890s, working was only for lower class women who could not afford a life of leisure .
In reaction to this, the National American Woman Suffrage Association was created in 1890, which fought for women’s social and political rights. While Kate Chopin was not a formal member of the suffragette movements, she did believe that women should have greater freedoms as individuals and often talked about these ideas in her works, including in “The Story of an Hour.”
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Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" a short exploration of marriage and repression in America.
“The Story of an Hour” Analysis
Now that you have some important background information, it’s time to start analyzing “The Story of an Hour.”
This short story is filled with opposing forces . The themes, characters, and even symbols in the story are often equal, but opposite, of one another. Within “The Story of an Hour,” analysis of all of these elements reveals a deeper meaning.
“The Story of an Hour” Themes
A theme is a message explored in a piece of literature. Most stories have multiple themes, which is certainly the case in “The Story of an Hour.” Even though Chopin’s story is short, it discusses the thematic ideas of freedom, repression, and marriage.
Keep reading for a discussion of the importance of each theme!
Freedom and Repression
The most prevalent theme in Chopin’s story is the battle between freedom and “repression.” Simply put , repression happens when a person’s thoughts, feelings, or desires are being subdued. Repression can happen internally and externally. For example, if a person goes through a traumatic accident, they may (consciously or subconsciously) choose to repress the memory of the accident itself. Likewise, if a person has wants or needs that society finds unacceptable, society can work to repress that individual. Women in the 19th century were often victims of repression. They were supposed to be demure, gentle, and passive—which often went against women’s personal desires.
Given this, it becomes apparent that Louise Mallard is the victim of social repression. Until the moment of her husband’s supposed death, Louise does not feel free . In their marriage, Louise is repressed. Readers see this in the fact that Brently is moving around in the outside world, while Louise is confined to her home. Brently uses railroad transportation on his own, walks into his house of his own accord, and has individual possessions in the form of his briefcase and umbrella. Brently is even free from the knowledge of the train wreck upon his return home. Louise, on the other hand, is stuck at home by virtue of her position as a woman and her heart condition.
Here, Chopin draws a strong contrast between what it means to be free for men and women. While freedom is just part of what it means to be a man in America, freedom for women looks markedly different. Louise’s life is shaped by what society believes a woman should be and how a wife should behave. Once Louise’s husband “dies,” however, she sees a way where she can start claiming some of the more “masculine” freedoms for herself. Chopin shows how deeply important freedom is to the life of a woman when, in the end, it’s not the shock of her husband’s return of her husband that kills Louise, but rather the thought of losing her freedom again.
Marriage as a “The Story of an Hour” theme is more than just an idyllic life spent with a significant other. The Mallard’s marriage shows a reality of 1890s life that was familiar to many people. Marriage was a means of social control —that is to say, marriage helped keep women in check and secure men’s social and political power. While husbands were usually free to wander the world on their own, hold jobs, and make important family decisions, wives (at least those of the upper class) were expected to stay at home and be domestic.
Marriage in Louise Mallard’s case has very little love. She sees her marriage as a life-long bond in which she feels trapped, which readers see when she confesses that she loved her husband only “sometimes.” More to the point, she describes her marriage as a “powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature.” In other words, Louise Mallard feels injustice in the expectation that her life is dictated by the will of her husband.
Like the story, the marriages Kate witnessed often ended in an early or unexpected death. The women of her family, including Kate herself, all survived their husbands and didn’t remarry. While history tells us that Kate Chopin was happy in her marriage, she was aware that many women weren’t. By showing a marriage that had been built on control and society’s expectations, Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” highlights the need for a world that respected women as valuable partners in marriage as well as capable individuals.
![an essay about the story of an hour body-young-woman-looking-through-a-window](https://blog.prepscholar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/body-young-woman-looking-through-a-window.jpg?width=281&name=body-young-woman-looking-through-a-window.jpg)
While this painting by Johann Georg Meyer wasn't specifically of Louise Mallard, "Young Woman Looking Through a Window" is a depiction of what Louise might have looked like as she realized her freedom.
"The Story of an Hour" Characters
The best stories have developed characters, which is the case in “The Story of an Hour,” too. Five characters make up the cast of “The Story of an Hour”:
Louise Mallard
Brently mallard.
- The doctor(s)
By exploring the details of each character, we can better understand their motivations, societal role, and purpose to the story.
From the opening sentence alone, we learn a lot about Louise Mallard. Chopin writes, “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.”
From that statement alone, we know that she is married, has a heart condition, and is likely to react strongly to bad news . We also know that the person who is sharing the bad news views Louise as delicate and sensitive. Throughout the next few paragraphs, we also learn that Louise is a housewife, which indicates that she would be part of the middle-to-upper class in the 1890s. Chopin also describes Louise’s appearance as “young,” “fair, calm face,” with lines of “strength.” These characteristics are not purely physical, but also bleed into her character throughout the story.
Louise’s personality is described as different from other women . While many women would be struck with the news in disbelief, Louise cries with “wild abandonment”—which shows how powerful her emotions are. Additionally, while other women would be content to mourn for longer, Louise quickly transitions from grief to joy about her husband’s passing.
Ultimately, Chopin uses Louise’s character to show readers what a woman’s typical experience within marriage was in the 1890s. She uses Louise to criticize the oppressive and repressive nature of marriage, especially when Louise rejoices in her newfound freedom.
Josephine is Louise’s sister . We never hear of Josephine’s last name or whether she is married or not. We do know that she has come with Richards, a friend of Brently’s, to break the news of his death to her sister.
When Josephine tells Louise the bad news, she’s only able to tell Louise of Brently’s death in “veiled hints,” rather than telling her outright. Readers can interpret this as Josephine’s attempt at sparing Louise’s feelings. Josephine is especially worried about her sister’s heart condition, which we see in greater detail later as she warns Louise, “You will make yourself ill.” When Louise locks herself in her room, Josephine is desperate to make sure her sister is okay and begs Louise to let her in.
Josephine is the key supporting character for Louise, helping her mourn, though she never knows that Louise found new freedom from her husband’s supposed death . But from Josephine’s actions and interactions with Louise, readers can accurately surmise that she cares for her sister (even if she’s unaware of how miserable Louise finds her life).
Richards is another supporting character, though he is described as Brently’s friend, not Louise’s friend. It is Richards who finds out about Brently Mallard’s supposed death while at the newspaper office—he sees Brently’s name “leading the list of ‘killed.’” Richards’ main role in “The Story of an Hour” is to kick off the story’s plot.
Additionally, Richard’s presence at the newspaper office suggests he’s a writer, editor, or otherwise employee of the newspaper (although Chopin leaves this to readers’ inferences). Richards takes enough care to double-check the news and to make sure that Brently’s likely dead. He also enlists Josephine’s help to break the news to Louise. He tries to get to Louise before a “less careful, less tender friend” can break the sad news to her, which suggests that he’s a thoughtful person in his own right.
It’s also important to note is that Richards is aware of Louise’s heart condition, meaning that he knows Louise Mallard well enough to know of her health and how she is likely to bear grief. He appears again in the story at the very end, when he tries (and fails) to shield Brently from his wife’s view to prevent her heart from reacting badly. While Richards is a background character in the narrative, he demonstrates a high level of friendship, consideration, and care for Louise.
![an essay about the story of an hour body-train-19th-century](https://blog.prepscholar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/body-train-19th-century.jpg?width=450&name=body-train-19th-century.jpg)
Brently Mallard would have been riding in a train like this one when the accident supposedly occurred.
Mr. Brently Mallard is the husband of the main character, Louise. We get few details about him, though readers do know he’s been on a train that has met with a serious accident. For the majority of the story, readers believe Brently Mallard is dead—though the end of “The Story of an Hour” reveals that he’s been alive all along. In fact, Brently doesn’t even know of the railroad tragedy when he arrives home “travel-stained.”
Immediately after Louise hears the news of his death, she remembers him fondly. She remarks on his “kind, tender hands” and says that Brently “never looked save with love” upon her . It’s not so much Brently as it’s her marriage to him which oppresses Louise. While he apparently always loved Louise, Louise only “sometimes” loved Brently. She constantly felt that he “impose[d] a private will” upon her, as most husbands do their wives. And while she realizes that Brently likely did so without malice, she also realized that “a kind intention or a cruel intention” makes the repression “no less a crime.”
Brently’s absence in the story does two things. First, it contrasts starkly with Louise’s life of illness and confinement. Second, Brently’s absence allows Louise to imagine a life of freedom outside of the confines of marriage , which gives her hope. In fact, when he appears alive and well (and dashes Louise’s hopes of freedom), she passes away.
The Doctor(s)
Though the mention of them is brief, the final sentence of the story is striking. Chopin writes, “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease—of the joy that kills.” Just as she had no freedom in life, her liberation from the death of her husband is told as a joy that killed her.
In life as in death, the truth of Louise Mallard is never known. Everything the readers know about her delight in her newfound freedom happens in Louise’s own mind; she never gets the chance to share her secret joy with anyone else.
Consequently, the ending of the story is double-sided. If the doctors are to be believed, Louise Mallard was happy to see her husband, and her heart betrayed her. And outwardly, no one has any reason to suspect otherwise. Her reaction is that of a dutiful, delicate wife who couldn’t bear the shock of her husband returned from the grave.
But readers can infer that Louise Mallard died of the grief of a freedom she never had , then found, then lost once more. Readers can interpret Louise’s death as her experience of true grief in the story—that for her ideal life, briefly realized then snatched away.
![an essay about the story of an hour body-heart-tree-wood-rope-red](https://blog.prepscholar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/body-heart-tree-wood-rope-red.jpg?width=450&name=body-heart-tree-wood-rope-red.jpg)
In "The Story of an Hour," the appearance of hearts symbolize both repression and hope.
“The Story of an Hour” Symbolism and Motifs
Symbols are any object, word, or other element that appear in the story and have additional meanings beyond. Motifs are elements from a story that gain meaning from being repeated throughout the narrative. The line between symbols and motifs is often hazy, but authors use both to help communicate their ideas and themes.
In “The Story of an Hour,” symbolism is everywhere, but the three major symbols present in the story are:
- The heart
- The house and the outdoors
- Joy and sorrow
Heart disease, referred to as a “heart condition” within the text, opens and closes the text. The disease is the initial cause for everyone’s concern, since Louise’s condition makes her delicate. Later, heart disease causes Louise’s death upon Brently’s safe return. In this case, Louise’s ailing heart has symbolic value because it suggests to readers that her life has left her heartbroken. When she believes she’s finally found freedom, Louise prays for a long life...when just the day before, she’d “had thought with a shudder that life might be long.”
As Louise realizes her freedom, it’s almost as if her heart sparks back to life. Chopin writes, “Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously...she was striving to beat it back...Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.” These words suggest that, with her newfound freedom, the symptoms of her heart disease have lifted. Readers can surmise that Louise’s diseased heart is the result of being repressed, and hope brings her heart back to life.
Unfortunately, when Brently comes back, so does Louise’s heart disease. And, although her death is attributed to joy, the return of her (both symbolic and literal) heart disease kills her in the end.
![an essay about the story of an hour body-room-window-outdoors](https://blog.prepscholar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/body-room-window-outdoors.jpg?width=400&name=body-room-window-outdoors.jpg)
The House and the Outdoors
The second set of symbols are Louise’s house and the world she can see outside of her window. Chopin contrasts these two symbolic images to help readers better understand how marriage and repression have affected Louise.
First of all, Louise is confined to the home—both within the story and in general. For her, however, her home isn’t a place to relax and feel comfortable. It’s more like a prison cell. All of the descriptions of the house reinforce the idea that it’s closed off and inescapable . For instance, the front door is locked when Mr. Mallard returns home. When Mrs. Mallard is overcome with grief, she goes deeper inside her house and locks herself in her room.
In that room, however, Mrs. Mallard takes note of the outdoors by looking out of her window. Even in her momentary grief, she describes the “open square before her house” and “the new spring life.” The outdoors symbolize freedom in the story, so it’s no surprise that she realizes her newfound freedom as she looks out her window. Everything about the outside is free, beautiful, open, inviting, and pleasant...a stark contrast from the sadness inside the house .
The house and its differences from outdoors serve as one of many symbols for how Louise feels about her marriage: barred from a world of independence.
Joy and Sorrow
Finally, joy and sorrow are motifs that come at unexpected times throughout “The Story of an Hour.” Chopin juxtaposes joy and sorrow to highlight how tragedy releases Louise from her sorrow and gives her a joyous hope for the future.
At first, sorrow appears as Louise mourns the death of her husband. Yet, in just a few paragraphs, she finds joy in the event as she discovers a life of her own. Though Louise is able to see that feeling joy at such an event is “monstrous,” she continues to revel in her happiness.
It is later that, when others expect her to be joyful, Josephine lets out a “piercing cry,” and Louise dies. Doctors interpret this as “the joy that kills,” but more likely it’s a sorrow that kills. The reversal of the “appropriate” feelings at each event reveals how counterintuitive the “self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being” is to the surrounding culture. This paradox reveals something staggering about Louise’s married life: she is so unhappy with her situation that grief gives her hope...and she dies when that hope is taken away.
Key Takeaways: Kate Chopin's “The Story of an Hour”
Analyzing Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” takes time and careful thought despite the shortness of the story. The story is open to multiple interpretations and has a lot to reveal about women in the 1890s, and many of the story’s themes, characters, and symbols critique women’s marriage roles during the period .
There’s a lot to dig through when it comes to “The Story of an Hour” analysis. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just remember a few things :
- Events from Kate Chopin’s life and from social changes in the 1890s provided a strong basis for the story.
- Mrs. Louise Mallard’s heart condition, house, and feelings represent deeper meanings in the narrative.
- Louise goes from a state of repression, to freedom, and then back to repression, and the thought alone is enough to kill her.
Remembering the key plot points, themes, characters, and symbols will help you write any essay or participate in any discussion. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” has much more to uncover, so read it again, ask questions, and start exploring the story beyond the page!
![an essay about the story of an hour body-whats-next-now-what](https://blog.prepscholar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/body-whats-next-now-what.jpg?width=400&name=body-whats-next-now-what.jpg)
What’s Next?
You may have found your way to this article because analyzing literature can be tricky to master. But like any skill, you can improve with practice! First, make sure you have the right tools for the job by learning about literary elements. Start by mastering the 9 elements in every piece of literature , then dig into our element-specific guides (like this one on imagery and this one on personification .)
Another good way to start practicing your analytical skills is to read through additional expert guides like this one. Literary guides can help show you what to look for and explain why certain details are important. You can start with our analysis of Dylan Thomas’ poem, “Do not go gentle into that good night.” We also have longer guides on other words like The Great Gatsby and The Crucible , too.
If you’re preparing to take the AP Literature exam, it’s even more important that you’re able to quickly and accurately analyze a text . Don’t worry, though: we’ve got tons of helpful material for you. First, check out this overview of the AP Literature exam . Once you have a handle on the test, you can start practicing the multiple choice questions , and even take a few full-length practice tests . Oh, and make sure you’re ready for the essay portion of the test by checking out our AP Literature reading list!
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“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin: A Critical Analysis
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, first published in 1894 in the St. Louis Life magazine, was later included in the 1895 collection “Vojageur” and in the 1895 edition of “Bayou Folk”.
![an essay about the story of an hour "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin: A Critical Analysis](https://english-studies.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image-8.png)
Introduction: “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, first published in 1894 in the St. Louis Life magazine, was later included in the 1895 collection “Vojageur” and in the 1895 edition of “Bayou Folk”. This iconic short story features a unique narrative structure, where the protagonist, Louise Mallard, experiences a rollercoaster of emotions upon learning of her husband’s death in a railroad accident. The story showcases Chopin’s mastery of exploring themes of freedom, marriage, and the human psyche, all within a concise and gripping narrative that has captivated readers for over a century. Some key features of the story include its use of irony, symbolism, and a focus on the inner experiences of the protagonist, making it a landmark of American literary modernism.
Main Events in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
Table of Contents
- Mrs. Mallard Learns of Her Husband’s Death : Mrs. Mallard, afflicted with a heart condition, is gently informed of her husband’s death in a train accident by her sister Josephine and their friend Richards.
- Initial Grief and Solitude : Mrs. Mallard weeps in her sister’s arms and then withdraws to her room alone, overwhelmed by grief.
- Contemplation by the Window : Sitting alone in her room, Mrs. Mallard gazes out the window, observing signs of new life and feeling a sense of physical and emotional exhaustion.
- A Subtle Awakening : Mrs. Mallard begins to feel a subtle and elusive sense of freedom creeping over her, whispering “free, free, free!” as she starts to recognize a new sensation within herself.
- Embracing Freedom : As Mrs. Mallard acknowledges the prospect of freedom from her husband’s will and societal expectations, she feels a rush of joy and welcomes the years ahead for herself.
- Recognition of Self-Assertion : Mrs. Mallard reflects on the strength of her own desires for autonomy and self-assertion, realizing that it surpasses the complexities of love and relationships.
- Resistance and Revelation : Despite her sister’s pleas, Mrs. Mallard resists leaving her newfound sense of liberation, reveling in the elixir of life streaming through her open window.
- Vision of the Future : Mrs. Mallard’s imagination runs wild with possibilities for her future, filled with dreams of spring and summer days that will be entirely her own.
- Triumphant Reveal : Mrs. Mallard emerges from her room, exuding a feverish triumph, and descends the stairs with her sister, unaware of what awaits her.
- Shocking Revelation and Tragic End : The story takes a dramatic turn as Mrs. Mallard’s husband, Brently Mallard, returns home unharmed, unaware of the news of his death. The shock of his appearance leads to Mrs. Mallard’s sudden death, attributed by doctors to “the joy that kills.”
Literary Devices in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
“railroad accident” | Reference to a common and feared event at the time, evoking a sense of tragedy and shock. | |
“free, free, free” | Repetition of the word “free” at the beginning of successive clauses emphasizes Louise’s longing for freedom and her triumphant feeling. | |
“She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength.” | Description of Louise’s physical appearance and personality traits, revealing her inner struggles and resilience. | |
Contrast | “She had loved him—sometimes. Often she had not.” | Juxtaposition of opposing ideas (love and indifference) highlights the complexity of Louise’s feelings and her mixed emotions. |
“the delicious breath of rain was in the air” | Vivid description of a sensory experience, creating a sense of freshness and new life, symbolizing Louise’s liberation. | |
“the joy that kills” | Unexpected twist: Louise’s newfound freedom and joy ultimately lead to her death, highlighting the complexity of her emotions. | |
“a goddess of Victory” | Comparison of Louise to a triumphant deity, emphasizing her sense of empowerment and freedom. | |
Freedom | Recurring theme of freedom, emphasizing its significance to Louise and her desire for autonomy. | |
“the patches of blue sky showing here and there” | Attributing human-like qualities to the sky, creating a sense of hope and freedom. | |
“free” | Emphasis through repeated use of the word “free”, highlighting Louise’s longing and triumphant feeling. | |
Open window and blue sky | Representation of freedom, hope, and new life, symbolizing Louise’s liberation from her oppressive marriage. | |
“the kind, tender hands folded in death” | Using a part (hands) to represent the whole (Brently’s deceased body), emphasizing Louise’s emotional response. | |
Somber, reflective, and triumphant | Author’s attitude, creating a sense of seriousness, introspection, and ultimately, liberation. | |
“a monstrous joy” | Words conveying a meaning opposite of their literal definition, highlighting the complexity of Louise’s emotions. | |
Imagery (Visual) | “the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life” | Description of settings and characters to create vivid mental images, emphasizing the sense of new life and freedom. |
“What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name.” | Hinting at events that will occur later (Louise’s death), creating tension and suspense. | |
“She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will—” | Unstructured flow of thoughts and feelings, revealing Louise’s inner turmoil and emotional struggle. | |
Suspense | “There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully.” | Tension created by uncertainty, keeping the reader engaged and invested in Louise’s story. |
Syntax | Short, simple sentences | Unconventional sentence structure, creating a sense of urgency, simplicity, and directness, emphasizing Louise’s emotions and thoughts. |
Characterization in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
- Afflicted with a heart condition, which influences her physical and emotional state throughout the story.
- Initially portrayed as experiencing grief and sorrow over her husband’s death but undergoes a transformation as she contemplates the prospect of freedom.
- Symbolizes themes of repression, liberation, and the complexities of marriage and societal expectations.
- Acts as a supportive figure to Mrs. Mallard, informing her of her husband’s death and attempting to comfort her.
- Represents familial bonds and the role of women in supporting each other in times of crisis.
- Present when the news of Brently Mallard’s death is revealed to Mrs. Mallard.
- His actions highlight the societal norms of male friendship and the expectation of delivering difficult news to women.
- Appears briefly at the end of the story, shocking Mrs. Mallard and ultimately leading to her death.
- Serves as a catalyst for Mrs. Mallard’s emotional journey and the revelation of her desire for freedom.
- Represents the constraints of traditional marriage and the loss of individual identity within such relationships.
Major Themes in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
- Freedom and Liberation : The story explores the theme of freedom through Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s death. Initially grieving, she experiences a profound sense of liberation and anticipates a future free from the constraints of marriage and societal expectations.
- Repression and Identity : Mrs. Mallard’s emotional journey highlights the repression of her true feelings within her marriage and society. Her brief moment of freedom allows her to glimpse her own desires and identity apart from her role as a wife.
- Irony and Unexpected Twists : Chopin employs irony and unexpected twists to challenge conventional narrative expectations. The revelation of Brently Mallard’s survival and Mrs. Mallard’s subsequent death subverts the reader’s assumptions and underscores the complexities of human emotion and experience.
- Death and Joy : The story juxtaposes themes of death and joy, suggesting that liberation and self-realization can emerge from unexpected or even tragic circumstances. Mrs. Mallard’s death, attributed to “the joy that kills,” underscores the paradoxical nature of human emotions and the complexities of inner lives.
Writing Style in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
- Descriptive Imagery : Chopin employs vivid and sensory language to create imagery that immerses the reader in the setting and emotions of the story. Descriptions of the springtime scene outside Mrs. Mallard’s window, such as “aquiver with the new spring life,” evoke a sense of renewal and vitality.
- Stream-of-Consciousness : The story delves into Mrs. Mallard’s thoughts and feelings, often in a stream-of-consciousness style. This technique allows readers to experience her internal turmoil and the rapid shifts in her emotions as she grapples with the news of her husband’s death and the prospect of freedom.
- Symbolism : Chopin utilizes symbolism to convey deeper themes and meanings throughout the narrative. For example, the open window symbolizes the possibility of escape and liberation, while Mrs. Mallard’s physical and emotional confinement within her home reflects the constraints of her marriage and societal expectations.
- Irony and Subtext : The story is marked by irony and subtle subtext, particularly in its exploration of Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s death. While her initial response appears to be one of grief, it gradually becomes clear that she is experiencing a sense of liberation and joy at the prospect of newfound freedom.
- Economy of Language : Chopin’s writing in “The Story of an Hour” is characterized by its economy of language, with each word carefully chosen to maximize impact. This concise style contributes to the story’s intensity and emotional resonance, allowing readers to experience the protagonist’s inner journey with clarity and immediacy.
Literary Theories and Interpretation of “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
Louise’s struggle for autonomy and independence | “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.” | Louise’s desire for self-assertion and freedom from patriarchal oppression is a central theme. | |
Louise’s repressed emotions and inner conflict | “She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will—” | Louise’s inner turmoil and emotional struggle with her husband’s death reveal her repressed desires and inner conflict. | |
Symbolic Theory | Symbols of freedom and oppression | “The open window and blue sky” | The open window and blue sky symbolize freedom, hope, and new life, while the closed door and darkness symbolize oppression and confinement. |
Feminist Theory :
- Interpretation: Louise’s struggle for autonomy and independence
- Example: “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.”
- Explanation: Louise’s desire for self-assertion and freedom from patriarchal oppression is a central theme. She rejects the societal expectations of women and seeks to live for herself, symbolizing her autonomy and independence.
Psychoanalytic Theory:
- Interpretation: Louise’s repressed emotions and inner conflict
- Example: “She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will—”
- Explanation: Louise’s inner turmoil and emotional struggle with her husband’s death reveal her repressed desires and inner conflict. Her feelings of freedom and joy are juxtaposed with her guilt and grief, highlighting her complex psyche.
Symbolic Theory:
- Interpretation: Symbols of freedom and oppression
- Example: “The open window and blue sky”
- Explanation: The open window and blue sky symbolize freedom, hope, and new life, while the closed door and darkness symbolize oppression and confinement. The window and sky represent Louise’s desire for escape and freedom, while the door and darkness represent her trapped and oppressive life.
Topics, Questions, and Thesis Statements about “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
Gender Roles and Societal Expectations | How does the story challenge traditional gender roles? | In “The Story of an Hour,” Kate Chopin subverts societal expectations by portraying Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s death as a complex exploration of liberation and self-assertion. |
Psychological Realism and Inner Conflict | What psychological insights does the story offer about human emotions and inner conflict? | Through Mrs. Mallard’s internal journey, Chopin provides a nuanced portrayal of human psychology, revealing the complexities of grief, repression, and the pursuit of personal freedom. |
Irony and Narrative Subversion | How does Chopin use irony to subvert narrative expectations? | Chopin employs irony throughout the story to challenge conventional narrative structures and reveal the unexpected complexities of human experience, particularly in moments of emotional revelation. |
Symbolism and Subtext | What symbolic elements contribute to the deeper meaning of the story? | The use of symbolism, such as the open window and Mrs. Mallard’s physical confinement, underscores the story’s exploration of liberation, repression, and the struggle for individual identity. |
Short Questions/Answers about/on “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
- What is the significance of the title “The Story of an Hour” and how does it relate to the story’s themes? The title “The Story of an Hour” refers to the brief period of time during which the protagonist, Louise Mallard, experiences a sense of freedom and liberation after hearing of her husband’s death. This hour represents a turning point in her life, as she momentarily breaks free from the societal expectations and constraints that have defined her marriage. The title highlights the story’s exploration of freedom, individuality, and the oppressive nature of societal norms.
- How does Kate Chopin use symbolism in “The Story of an Hour” to convey the protagonist’s emotional journey and the themes of the story? Kate Chopin employs symbolism throughout the story to convey Louise’s emotional journey and the themes of freedom, individuality, and oppression. The open window, for instance, symbolizes Louise’s newfound freedom and her desire to break free from the constraints of her marriage. The “blue and far” sky represents the limitless possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead. The “new spring of life” and the “delicious breath of rain” symbolize renewal and rejuvenation, reflecting Louise’s growing sense of hope and liberation.
- What role does irony play in “The Story of an Hour,” and how does it contribute to the story’s themes and character development? Irony plays a significant role in “The Story of an Hour,” as it underscores the contradictions and tensions that exist between societal expectations and individual desires. The story’s use of dramatic irony, where the reader is aware of Louise’s inner thoughts and feelings, while the other characters are not, highlights the disconnect between her public and private selves. The situational irony, where Louise’s husband returns alive, subverts the reader’s expectations and underscores the oppressive nature of societal norms, which deny women their individuality and freedom.
- How does “The Story of an Hour” reflect the social and cultural context in which it was written, and what commentary does it offer on the status of women during this time period? “The Story of an Hour” reflects the social and cultural context of the late 19th century, a time when women’s rights and freedoms were severely limited. The story critiques the patriarchal society and the institution of marriage, which often trapped women in loveless and oppressive relationships. Through Louise’s character, Chopin highlights the suffocating nature of societal expectations and the longing for individuality and freedom that many women experienced during this time period. The story’s exploration of these themes offers a commentary on the status of women and the need for greater autonomy and self-expression.
Literary Works Similar to “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
- “ The Yellow Wallpaper ” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman : This story explores themes of female oppression and mental health as a woman confined to a room by her husband begins to unravel psychologically.
- “ A Jury of Her Peers ” by Susan Glaspell : Based on Glaspell’s play “Trifles,” this story delves into gender roles and justice as women uncover crucial evidence while accompanying their husbands on a murder investigation.
- “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin : Another work by Chopin, this novella examines the constraints of marriage and societal expectations as a woman seeks independence and self-discovery in late 19th-century Louisiana.
- “ The Chrysanthemums ” by John Steinbeck : Set in the Salinas Valley during the Great Depression, this story follows a woman’s encounter with a traveling tinkerer, exploring themes of isolation, longing, and gender roles.
- “The Story of a Dead Man” by Ambrose Bierce : Bierce’s story, similar to “The Story of an Hour,” explores themes of freedom and liberation as a man seemingly returns from the dead, causing his widow to contemplate her newfound independence.
Suggested Readings about/on “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
Books on kate chopin and “the story of an hour”:.
- Bonner, Thomas Jr. The Kate Chopin Companion . Greenwood, 1988.
- Ewell, Barbara C. Kate Chopin . Ungar, 1986.
- Papke, Mary E. Verging on the Abyss: The Social Fiction of Kate Chopin and Edith Wharton . Greenwood, 1990.
- Seyersted, Per. Kate Chopin: A Critical Biography . Louisiana State UP, 1969.
- Skaggs, Peggy. Kate Chopin . Twayne, 1985.
Articles on “The Story of an Hour”:
- Mitchell, Angelyn. “Feminine Double Consciousness in Kate Chopin’s ‘The Story of an Hour.'” CEAMagazine 5.1 (1992): 59-64.
- Miner, Madonne M. “Veiled Hints: An Affective Stylist’s Reading of Kate Chopin’s ‘Story of an Hour.'” Markham Review 11 (1982): 29-32.
Web Resource:
- The Kate Chopin International Society offers a wealth of information on Chopin and “The Story of an Hour,” including the full text of the story and critical essays: Kate Chopin International Society: https://www.katechopin.org/story-hour/
Representative Quotations from “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
“She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms.” | Louise’s initial reaction to news of her husband’s death | Feminist Theory: highlights the societal expectation of women’s emotional response to tragedy |
“There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds…” | Louise’s gaze out the window, symbolizing freedom and hope | Symbolic Theory: the open window and blue sky represent freedom and new life |
“She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength.” | Description of Louise’s physical appearance and personality | Psychoanalytic Theory: reveals Louise’s repressed emotions and inner conflict |
“She said it over and over under her breath: ‘free, free, free!'” | Louise’s whispered word, symbolizing her desire for autonomy | Feminist Theory: highlights the importance of individual freedom and autonomy |
“There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.” | Louise’s realization of her newfound independence | Existentialist Theory: emphasizes individual responsibility and self-assertion |
“What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion…” | Louise’s reflection on the significance of love and self-assertion | Psychoanalytic Theory: reveals the tension between societal expectations and individual desires |
“She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long.” | Louise’s desire for a long and independent life | Existentialist Theory: emphasizes the individual’s desire for life and autonomy |
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- “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce: Analysis
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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Story of An Hour — Analysis of Style, Tone, and Language in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
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Analysis of Style, Tone, and Language in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
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The essay analyzes Kate Chopin's short story "The Story of an Hour," focusing on its style, tone, and language. The author highlights how these literary elements contribute to the story's success and its controversial nature.
In terms of style, the essay discusses how Chopin uses imagery to convey the protagonist's transition from oppression to freedom. The symbolism of spring and new life associated with death challenges traditional narratives, suggesting that the death of the husband represents a liberation for the wife. The house itself is portrayed as a symbol of confinement, contrasting with the freedom symbolized by nature.
Regarding tone, the essay points out the optimism and joy felt by the protagonist upon learning of her husband's death, as it signifies her newfound freedom. However, it also highlights the story's melancholic and tragic tones, as the protagonist's liberation is short-lived, leading to her untimely death.
The language analysis delves into Chopin's choice of words and phrases, emphasizing how they reflect the protagonist's feelings of oppression within her marriage. The essay interprets words like "repression" and "feverish triumph" to support the idea that the protagonist felt controlled by her husband. Additionally, the use of vivid language, such as "all aquiver," captures the protagonist's awakening to a new life.
Table of contents
Introduction, style in "the story of an hour”, tone in "the story of an hour”, "the story of an hour” language analysis.
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Related Essays on The Story of An Hour
Berkove, Lawrence "Fatal Self-Assertion in Kate Chopin's 'The Story of an Hour'." American Literary Realism, vol. 32, no. 2, 2000, pp. 152-158. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "The Yellow Wallpaper." The New England [...]
First published in 1894, Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" is a short but powerful story that explores the complex emotions of a woman who learns of her husband's death. The narrative delves into the theme of female [...]
Women’s role in society has always been a widely-discussed topic. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin are two stories that explore this issue. Do you want to compare and [...]
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The Story of An Hour - Study Guide
Kate Chopin 's The Story of An Hour (1894) is considered one of the finest pieces of Feminist Literature. We hope that our study guide is particularly useful for teachers and students to get the most from the story and appreciate its boldness shaking up the literary community of its time.
Here's the story: The Story of An Hour , Character Analysis & Summary , Genre & Themes , Historical Context , Quotes , Discussion Questions , Useful Links , and Notes/Teacher Comments
Character Analysis & Summary
Plot Summary : Chopin basically summarizes the external events of the story in the first sentence: "Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death."
Genre & Themes
Challenge Social Conventions : Rather than conform to what's expected, honor your own needs. Just because it's the way it's always been, doesn't mean it has to continue at your expense.
Situational Irony : Life's a bitch-- just when you think you're free from obligation, you go and die yourself, which kind of makes liberation a bit pointless. Chopin's story is a great example of the literary device called situational irony .
Historical Context
Feminist literature, both fiction and non-fiction, supports feminist goals for the equal rights of women in their economic, social, civic, and political status relative to men. Such literature dates back to the 15th century (The Tale of Joan of Arc by Christine de Pisan), Mary Wollstonecraft in the 18th century, Virginia Woolf , Elizabeth Cady Stanton , Florence Nightingale , Elizabeth Perkins Gilman , and Louisa May Alcott . Kate Chopin 's best known novel, The Awakening (1899) and Mary E. Wilkins Freeman 's A New England Nun (1891) led the emerging modern feminist literary movement into the 20th century, during which women earned the right to vote, fought for economic, social, political, educational, and reproductive rights with Gloria Steinem and the Women's Liberation Movement. The 21st century has brought a resurgence of interest in Margaret Atwood 's The Handmaid's Tale with a new streaming video series , and the Women's March After President Trump's Inauguration (2017) drew more than a million protesters in cities throughout the country and world.
It's helpful to know the list of grievances and demands a group of activitists (mostly women) published in The Declaration of Sentiments in 1848. Principal author and first women's conference organizer was Elizabeth Cady Stanton , with high-profile support from abolitionist Frederick Douglass . Many more struggles and attempts to change public opinion followed the conference; it took 72 more years for women to secure the right to vote.
A brief History of Feminism
“Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death."
“She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance."
“When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her."
“She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will--as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been."
"'Free, free, free!'' The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright."
"What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!"
"When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills."
Discussion Questions
9. Elaborate on Chopin's uses of irony: 1) Situational Irony : when she gets her freedom, she dies anyway 2) Verbal irony : What is said explicitly is much different than the text's inferences (thinking rather than saying). Reacting to news of a spouse's death with relief, nevermind "monstrous joy" is an "inappropriate" response, for sure. She keeps these thoughts in her head (whispering her chant), with the door closed.
10. Discuss the concept of repression and Chopin's assertion of her real cause of death: "the joy that kills."
11. Read Chopin's allegory about freedom from a cage, her short-short story, Emancipation: A Life Fable . Compare its theme, tone, symbols, and use of irony to this story.
Essay Prompt : Tell the same story from Josephine's point of view (remember, Louisa keeps her door shut most of the time).
Essay Prompt : Consider reading the one act play by Susan Glaspell , Trifles (1916), about a murder trial which challenges our perceptions of justice and morality. Compare it to Chopin's The Story of An Hour
Essay Prompt : Read Kate Chopin 's biography (feel free to extend your research to other sources). How does her personal story reflect her writing?
Useful Links
Biography and Works by Kate Chopin
American Literature's biographies of featured Women Writers
ELA Common Core Lesson plan ideas for "The Story of An Hour"
Veiled Hints and Irony in Chopin's "The Story of An Hour"
Feminist Approaches to Literature , read more about the genre
Kate Chopin's "The Awakening": Searching for Women & Identity
KateChopin.org's biography and assessment of her work
Is It Actually Ironic? TED-Ed lessons on irony
Notes/Teacher Comments
Visit our Teacher Resources , supporting literacy instruction across all grade levels
American Literature's Study Guides
Analysis of “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin Research Paper
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Introduction
External and internal conflict, physical and cultural setting, literary devices, works cited.
Unfortunately, oppression of women is a severe and extended process that was especially active in the 1890s. A number of famous American writers of those years used their talent of choosing the right words to describe how women and men may oppress each other and deprive their beloved ones of freedom. A short writing “A Story of an Hour,” created by Kate Chopin in 1894, touches on the topic of unhappiness during the marriage.
A woman named Louise Mallard is informed of her husband’s tragic death. While trying to process this information and understand her own feelings, the woman wants to be alone in her room. Unexpectedly, instead of continuing mourning and grieving, Louise meets with another feeling – freedom. While knowing that she will miss her husband, the woman also feels relieved that she will not have to live with him for years – she is now free. However, when she learns that her husband is actually alive, she dies, as noted by the doctors, “of heart disease–of the joy that kills” (Chopin). It is possible to say that the story evokes strange emotions and leaves an ambiguous impression, making one think about the connections between love, marriage, happiness, and freedom.
In “The Story of an Hour,” there is both internal and external conflict. The essence of the latter is in the opposition of a person to society and its norms. Chopin refers to one of “the numerous paradoxes against which the woman had to survive in the American society in the 19 th century” – imposed roles and stereotypes (Kusi and Zetang-Jua 2). When finally feeling free, Louise joyfully realized that “there would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature” (Chopin). Thus, it is evident that the conflict discussed in the short story is between the society that wants males and females to follow their roles and real people who are tired of stereotypes and taken freedom.
Further, the second conflict in “The Story of an Hour” is the internal struggle and confusion of Louise. It is challenging for her to understand and accept the duality of her feelings. On the one hand, her husband loved her and never treated her badly, which is why it is difficult to name her marriage unhappy. On the other hand, being someone’s spouse deprived the woman of her right to make decisions and live in the way she wanted. Mrs. Mallard is simultaneously relieved and overwhelmed by the terrible news and tries to decide whether her new freedom or old happiness is greater:
And yet she had loved him – sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!
“Free! Body and soul free!” she kept whispering… (Chopin)
This is probably why Louise dies when her husband returns home. The woman has already accepted her new happiness, has imagined and loved living alone, and the great news of her spouse being alive makes it impossible for her to return to reality.
The setting in the story is also essential for understanding the conflict and main idea. As mentioned above, the story takes action in the 19 th century when many roles and stereotypes were imposed on both males and females (Jassam and Jassam 2). Such a circumstance weighs on Louise, not allowing her to understand that she is being oppressed (Yazgı 148), but these societal norms do not seem to bother her sister and husband’s friend (Chopin). The physical setting in the story is the Mallards’ house. It is a neutral territory where Louise is both happy and safe, but her freedom is somewhere else, behind the window. Finally, the time in the story is limited – all events take one hour, and the author shows how much a character’s feelings and life, in general, can change in such a small amount of time.
As with most literary works, this short story is filled with numerous language devices that add to the ambiguity and power of “The Story of an Hour.” To begin with, it is essential to discuss repetition since, as noticed by Hu, it is “replete with repetition of words, phrases, structures, ideas, and themes” (1). Among many other examples, the window in Louise’s room is selected to prove the point of this paragraph. There are three sentences in which the window is mentioned in a similar form: “There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair,” “There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one above the other in the west facing her window,” and “she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window” (Chopin). According to Hu, the repetition in these fragments is used to portray Mrs. Mallard as a vivid woman who suddenly changes her mind (3). Therefore, this literary device is needed to allow the readers better understand Louise.
Another language device in this short story is symbolism, and it is also discussed in the example of the window and the doors in Mrs. Mallard’s house. When trying to process the news and imagine her future life, she is looking precisely out the window and realizes her freedom, feels being “body and soul free” (Chopin). The window is the symbol of liberty, life, and uncommon happiness for Louise. At the same time, the doors in their house symbolize the past and death as they provide no escape from stereotypes, oppression, and unhappy marriage. When Mrs. Mallard locks herself in her room, the closed door is a symbol of the past she has left behind; however, opening the door for her sister means that Louise returns to her past and is going to meet her death. It is also interesting that, for Mr. Mallard, the front door that he enters actually symbolizes life, so this is a dual symbolism – if her husband is alive, Louise has to die to be free.
To draw a conclusion, one may say that “The Story of an Hour” is indeed rather ambiguous writing that leaves the reader with confusing emotions. Is it correct to consider Louise’s death as the final escape from oppression and unhappy marriage? Was it possible for her to live happily with her husband, who loved and admired her? These are the questions I have after reading the story. The opposition between death and life, social norms and self-perception, and marriage and freedom make this story, written in just a few paragraphs, unique in terms of feminist literature.
Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” Virginia Commonwealth University , 1894.
Hu, Aihua. “The Art of Repetition in ‘The Story of an Hour’.” A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews , 2020, pp. 1-6.
Jassam, Aseel Hatif, and Hadeel Hatif Jassam. “Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”: A Feminist Discourse of a Married Woman Reclaiming Her Lost Female Identity.” Social Sciences International Research Journal , vol. 6, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1-5.
Kusi, David Toh, and Zetang-Jua, Amandine Ankainkom. “Aesthetic Significance and Biographical Signposting: Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and the Release of Patriarchal Grief.” International Journal of Integrative Humanism , vol. 12, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1-9.
Yazgı, Cihan. “Tragic Elements and Discourse-Time in ‘The Story of an Hour’.” The Explicator, vol. 78, no. 3-4, 2020, pp. 147-152.
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Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour is an excellent short story with feminist themes. You can explore Mrs Mallard's journey by writing a paper with the help of our The Story of an Hour essay prompt ideas and samples. Check them out! We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts.
Introduction. This paper will provide a summary and an analysis of "The Story of an Hour," a short story by Kate Chopin published in 1894. Despite being only several pages long, the passage has become popular among readers. The title refers to the fact that the plot revolves around a woman and what she experiences throughout one hour.
Introduction. "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin was published in Vogue magazine in 1894. It details the reaction of Louise Mallard, who suffers from a heart condition, to the news of the ...
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"The Story of an Hour" is a short story written by Kate Chopin on April 19, 1894. It was originally published in Vogue on December 6, 1894, as "The Dream of an Hour".It was later reprinted in St. Louis Life on January 5, 1895, as "The Story of an Hour".. The title of the short story refers to the time elapsed between the moments at which the protagonist, Louise Mallard, hears that her husband ...
In "The Story of an Hour," there is both internal and external conflict. The essence of the latter is in the opposition of a person to society and its norms. Chopin refers to one of "the numerous paradoxes against which the woman had to survive in the American society in the 19 th century" - imposed roles and stereotypes (Kusi and ...
Aquino, Carlos Hour 1 The Story of An Hour Essay The theme for "The Story of An Hour" is that marriage is not always a treat. In other words marriage is not always perfect maybe a couple might not love each other anymore or might not love each other at all times. In the story by Kate Chopin marriage is shown to the reader as not always perfect.
What is the "out-in-the-open" rule? The "out-in-the-open" rule was coined by podcast duo and Netflix stars, The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus and aims to target hidden ...
The Woman Question. "The Story of an Hour" was published in 1894, during a period when numerous social and cultural issues were on Americans' minds. One such issue, known as the "Woman Question ...
August 25, 2024 - 9:45 Modern Worship
The crime took place on the night of 9 August, when the woman, who was a junior doctor at the city's RG Kar Medical College, had gone to a seminar room to rest after a gruelling 36-hour shift.