Themes Of Freedom In Chopin’s “The Story Of An Hour”

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Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” is a short, yet complex piece. In only a few paragraphs, Chopin manages to describe the final hour or Mrs. Louise Mallard while giving the reader hidden details about her life. This story is overflowing with symbolism. The most prominent theme that I perceived was a longing to be free.
Chopin uses words that would that would suggest imprisonment in the first few paragraphs of the story. After Mrs. Mallard has reflected upon her situation and realized that she was no longer married, the descriptive words now reflected freedom or breaking from bondage.
At the beginning of the story, Louise Mallard has just learned of her husband’s death. Chopin describes Louise as a woman who is “afflicted with heart trouble” and not capable of handling news of death. Her sister, Josephine, and her husband’s friend, Richards, both expect her reaction to cause problems with her heart. These lines reflect how she is viewed in her household. Chopin hints that she is treated as a prisoner, not allowed to enjoy life because of her ailments. From the very beginning, the reader gets the idea that Mrs. Mallard was oppressed in her marriage.
When the news of Mr. Mallard’s death finally reaches Louise, she is described as not reacting as many women would. “She wept as once, with a sudden, wild abandonment” and then retired to her room “when the storm of grief had passed.” The quick passing of her grief is something that surprises her. Louise begins to reflect upon her situation and rationalizes her reaction. Here the story changes tone and become happy.
Almost directly to the reader, Chopin manages to relate her views on relationships. While coming to terms with her situation, Louise bluntly states that “there would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men...