Story Of An Hour

4 Pages 939 Words

Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” was written in the late 1800’s when male domination was conventional. This short story depicts the typical life and marriage of a woman in this time era. Most women led oppressed lives, and catered to their authoritative husbands. One can infer, that Mrs. Mallard was bonded to the institution of marriage through her husband, society and the church. Chopin’s, “The Story of an Hour” expresses a woman’s desire for independence. This is clearly evident within the physical, and emotional setting of the story.
Within the opening paragraphs of the short story Chopin notes that Mrs. Mallard suffers from heart trouble. The heart is a vital organ within the human body but it is also the center for one’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Clearly, Mrs. Mallard’s heart and soul were “aching”. Chopin notes, that Mrs. Mallard suffered from physical exhaustion that pressed down upon her after hearing the news of the death of her husband. The “dead weight” which pressed down upon her body crushed her own sense of being.
Apparently, Mrs. Mallard had a young, fair, and calm face. This may indicate that she was fairly young in age. Her physical attributes may symbolize the status that she attained within her society and marriage. Did they view this grown woman as a mere child with no decision making power?
Chopin notes that Mrs. Mallard’s hands would have been powerless, white, and slender One receives the mental images of snow white, lifeless, ice-cold hands that belong to a corpse. It foreshadows the inevitable death that will occur in order for Mrs. Mallard to get her freedom. Either, she will pass on to receive the ultimate freedom of eternal life or Mr. Mallard will pass on and allow her to experience “hands on” the world that surrounded her.
Mrs. Mallard’s eyes were described as containing a vacant stare, and containing a look of terror. As the saying goes, “The eye...