There would be no powerful will bending hers in that In fact, when he appears alive and well (and dashes Louise’s hopes of freedom), she passes away. She clasped her sister's waist, and together 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. Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously. This short story is filled with opposing forces. In order to support herself and her children, Kate began to write to support her family. What was it? . She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a Brently is even free from the knowledge of the train wreck upon his return home. June 17, 2020 by Essay Writer. Chopin was also very aware of the. When Mrs. Mallard is overcome with grief, she goes deeper inside her house and locks herself in her room. 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. The Story of an Hour. Brently’s absence in the story does two things. 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. Story of an Hour 848 Words | 4 Pages. Louise goes from a state of repression, to freedom, and then back to repression, and the thought alone is enough to kill her. . paralyzed inability to accept its significance. See a complete list of the characters in "The Story of an Hour" and in-depth analyses of … While this world might sound like the present day, it also describes America in the 1890s. Working women as a whole were looked down upon by society, no matter why they found themselves in need of a job. "The Story of An Hour" Kate Chopin (1894) 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. (originally Kate O’Flaherty) knew hardship from an early age. Her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother chose to remain widows (rather than remarry) after their husbands died. At first she’s scared to admit it, but Louise quickly finds peace and joy in her admission. will make yourself ill. What are you doing, Louise? Marriage in Louise Mallard’s case has very little love. Within “The Story of an Hour,” analysis of all of these elements reveals a deeper meaning. (Chopin would give birth to seven children over the next nine years!). Often she had not. Reading. Ultimately, Chopin uses Louise’s character to show readers what a woman’s typical experience within marriage was in the 1890s. She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. 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. Born in 1850 to wealthy Catholic parents in St. Louis, Missouri. moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. Yet, in just a few paragraphs, she finds joy in the event as she discovers a life of her own. First, it contrasts starkly with Louise’s life of illness and confinement. imploring for admission. 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. 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. In this passage which of the following is the most prominent recurring theme? 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. 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. 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. This section includes a quick recap, but, you can find “The Story of an Hour” PDF and full version here. Mr. Brently Mallard is the husband of the main character, Louise. , which gives her hope. 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. They stayed keen and bright. It was only yesterday she had Readers see this in the fact that Brently is moving around in the outside world, while Louise is confined to her home. Literary Devices found in "The Story of an Hour" By: Kayanna Sanders Situational Irony is used in "The Story of an Hour" through Mrs. Mallards reaction of her husband's death. Now Upon hearing the news of her husband’s death, Louise is grief-stricken, locks herself in her room, and weeps. There’s a lot to dig through when it comes to “The Story of an Hour” analysis. Unfortunately, Chopin would pass away from a suspected cerebral hemorrhage in 1904, at the age of 54. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: © PrepScholar 2013-2018. Ask questions; get answers. Later, heart disease causes Louise’s death upon Brently’s safe return. Brently is even free from the knowledge of the train wreck upon his return home. Once Louise’s husband “dies,” however, she sees a way where she can start claiming some of the more “masculine” freedoms for herself. 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 could live for … In life as in death, the truth of Louise Mallard is never known. 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. Working women as a whole were looked down upon by society, no matter why they found themselves in need of a job. She constantly felt that he “impose[d] a private will” upon her, as most husbands do their wives. Her reaction is that of a dutiful, delicate wife who couldn’t bear the shock of her husband returned from the grave. Though Louise is able to see that feeling joy at such an event is “monstrous,” she continues to revel in her happiness. "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin is one of the most frequently anthologized short stories. 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. These words suggest a short period of time in which usually not a lot of events occur. The women of her family, including Kate herself, all survived their husbands and didn’t remarry. Now that you have some important background information, it’s time to start analyzing “The Story of an Hour.”. Chopin was well-educated throughout her childhood, reading voraciously and becoming fluent in French. He tries to get to Louise before a “less careful, less tender friend” can break the sad news to her. She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, Gone were the days where most people were expected to work at a trade or on a farm. Luckily, Chopin found immediate success as a writer. Repression can happen internally and externally. Mrs. Louise Mallard’s heart condition, house, and feelings represent deeper meanings in the narrative. joy that kills. And, although her death is attributed to joy. 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. Consequently, Chopin learned how important women’s independence could be, and that idea would permeate much of her writing later on. 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. But readers can infer that Louise Mallard. "The Story of an Hour" is one of the greatest works by Kate Chopin. open the door.". The Story of an Hour 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. Chopin’s mother died the year after. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? Get the latest articles and test prep tips! 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. The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a short yet complex story, describing Mrs Mallard’s feelings. A kind intention or a cruel live for herself. Consequently, the ending of the story is double-sided. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through He also enlists Josephine’s help to break the news to Louise. 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! She was beginning to recognize And outwardly, no one has any reason to suspect otherwise. Louise’s life is shaped by what society believes a woman should be and how a wife should behave. While he apparently always loved Louise, Louise only “sometimes” loved Brently. Mrs. Mallard is a housewife in late 1890s America has just received notice of her husband's unexpected, tragic death. . Doctors interpret this as “the joy that kills,” but more likely it’s a sorrow that kills. There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would She uses Louise to criticize the oppressive and repressive nature of marriage, especially when Louise rejoices in her newfound freedom. While Richards is a background character in the narrative, he demonstrates a high level of friendship, consideration, and care for Louise. The elements of spring—the resurgent prominence of plant life, the return of birdsong, everything—embody an approaching revelation, and the vague signification of … Louise, on the other hand, is stuck at home by virtue of her position as a woman and her heart condition. As Louise realizes her freedom, it’s almost as if her heart sparks back to life. 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. Likewise, if a person has wants or needs that society finds unacceptable, society can work to repress that individual. . , leaving Chopin in heavy debt and with the responsibility of managing the family’s struggling businesses. As Louise processes the news of her husband’s death, she realizes something wonderful and terrible at the same time: she is free. Motifs are elements from a story that gain meaning from being repeated throughout the narrative. Louise Mallard has heart trouble, so she must be informed carefully about her husband’s death. It focuses on the unfolding emotional state of Mrs Mallard after the […] Read more. While history tells us that Kate Chopin was happy in her marriage, she was aware that many women weren’t. It’s not so much Brently as it’s her marriage to him which oppresses Louise. While many women would be struck with the news in disbelief, Louise cries with “wild abandonment”—which shows how powerful her emotions are. (Chopin would give birth to seven children over the next nine years!). Many of her short stories and novels—including her most famous novel, The Awakening—dealt with life in Louisiana. For example, if a person goes through a traumatic accident, they may (consciously or subconsciously) choose to repress the memory of the accident itself. (even if she’s unaware of how miserable Louise finds her life). But Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and other writings have withstood the test of time. The. She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite Marriage as a “The Story of an Hour” theme is more than just an idyllic life spent with a significant other. 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. joy that kills. 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. We never hear of Josephine’s last name or whether she is married or not. From here, the story shifts in tone. The We recommend you read it again before diving into our analyses in the next section! Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. A clear and exalted perception enabled her to dismiss the suggestion “The Story of an Hour” was written and published in 1894, right as the 1800s were coming to a close. However, as she comes downstairs, the front door opens to reveal her husband, 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 women of her family, including Kate herself, all survived their husbands and didn’t remarry. “Story of an Hour” was the winner of the inaugural Salzman-Gramercy Opera Advancement Prize. However, as she comes downstairs, the front door opens to reveal her husband, who had not been killed by the accident at all. not even know there had been one. when intelligence of the railroad disaster was received, with Brently SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. The second set of symbols are Louise’s house and the world she can see outside of her window. Chopin was also exposed to non-traditional roles for women through her familial situation. She arose at length and opened the door to her sister's importunities. The Story of an Hour. would have been. While Kate Chopin was not a formal member of the suffragette movements, she did believe that, and often talked about these ideas in her works, including in “The Story of an Hour.”. When Mrs. Mallard is overcome with grief, she goes deeper inside her house and locks herself in her room. There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly 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. For instance, the workplace was changing drastically in the 1890s. beat it back with her will--as powerless as her two white slender hands Featuring a female protagonist who He had only taken the time It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. Mallard's name leading the list of "killed." As Chopin grew older, she became known for her beauty and congeniality by society in St. Louis. It was he who had been in the newspaper office All of the descriptions of the house reinforce the idea that it’s. At the beginning of the story, Richards and … While many women would be struck with the news in disbelief, Louise cries with “wild abandonment”—which shows how powerful her emotions are. Marriage in Louise Mallard’s case has very little love. It was originally published in Vogue on December 6, 1894, as "The Dream of an Hour". Likewise, if a person has wants or needs that society finds unacceptable, society can work to repress that individual. "Free! Josephine is Louise’s sister. 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.”. If you have not yet read it, it is only a couple pages long, and I implore you to do so! Factory jobs brought on by industrialization made work more efficient, and many of these factory owners gradually implemented more humane treatment of their workers, Though the country was in an economic recession. 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. whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. The Story of an Hour Summary . She wept at once, with and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body. brief moment of illumination. Readers can surmise that Louise’s diseased heart is the result of being repressed, and hope brings her heart back to life. Louise, on the other hand, is stuck at home by virtue of her position as a woman and her heart condition. As Louise realizes her freedom, it’s almost as if her heart sparks back to life. 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