the story of an hour

By clicking on "I agree", you agree to this use. 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. Freedom and Confinement. It seems ever-present, reaching out from the sky and coming to her through the smells that drift around her. 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.”. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? Within “The Story of an Hour,” analysis of all of these elements reveals a deeper meaning. (even if she’s unaware of how miserable Louise finds her life). While many women would be struck with the news in disbelief, Louise cries with “wild abandonment”—which shows how powerful her emotions are. 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. 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. 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. Financial trouble forced the family to move around rural Louisiana. For instance, the front door is locked when Mr. Mallard returns home. At first she’s scared to admit it, but Louise quickly finds peace and joy in her admission. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. They were supposed to be demure, gentle, and passive—which often went against women’s personal desires. behave. I also jotted down some thematic terms I noticed throughout the text while taking note of how Chopin incorporated them. There’s a lot to dig through when it comes to “The Story of an Hour” analysis. 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. Brently is even free from the knowledge of the train wreck upon his return home. Don’t worry, though: we’ve got tons of helpful material for you. During the reading part of our writing process, I annotated a printed version of the text and also wrote down notes while reading. Though the mention of them is brief, the final sentence of the story is striking. 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. Readers see this in the fact that Brently is moving around in the outside world, while Louise is confined to her home. Notably, however, work was different for women. A theme is a message explored in a piece of literature. Though Louise is able to see that feeling joy at such an event is “monstrous,” she continues to revel in her happiness. He also enlists Josephine’s help to break the news to Louise. reveals how counterintuitive the “self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being” is to the surrounding culture. 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. Given this, it becomes apparent that Louise Mallard is the victim of social repression. ‘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. This essay will discuss the story of an hour with emphasis on plot and development of the protagonist; Mrs. Mallard who goes through contrasting emotions and feelings that finally kill her on meeting the husband at the door and yet he had been said to be dead. Richards takes enough care to double-check the news and to make sure that Brently’s likely dead. 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. While Richards is a background character in the narrative, he demonstrates a high level of friendship, consideration, and care for Louise. Although the story is really short, it is very rich and complete, and every word in it carries deep sense and a lot of meaning. A Comprehensive Guide. Start by, mastering the 9 elements in every piece of literature, , then dig into our element-specific guides (like. Likewise, if a person has wants or needs that society finds unacceptable, society can work to repress that individual. In fact, when he appears alive and well (and dashes Louise’s hopes of freedom), she passes away. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Click "Start Assignment". . Given this, it becomes apparent that Louise Mallard is the victim of social repression. 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. 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. 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. A theme is a message explored in a piece of literature. Louise agrees to come out. Her work has lived on, and she’s now recognized as one of the most important American writers of the 19th century. Upon hearing the news of her husband’s death, Louise is grief-stricken, locks herself in her room, and weeps. "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin is one of the most frequently anthologized short stories. 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. The Story of an Hour is one of the stories featured in our collection of Short Stories for High School I and Short Short Stories to read when you have five minutes to indulge yourself reading a great story. Her reaction is that of a dutiful, delicate wife who couldn’t bear the shock of her husband returned from the grave. Josephine is Louise’s sister. In "The Story of an Hour," how you tell someone what happened is almost more important than what actually happened. Despite its brevity, there's a lot of meaning to uncover. However, as she comes downstairs, the front door opens to reveal her husband, who had not been killed by the accident at all. "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin Analyzed by Carli Alvarado . In the 1890s, working was only for lower class women who could not afford a life of leisure. Gone were the days where most people were expected to work at a trade or on a farm. This article includes a summary, as well as a look at themes, symbolism and irony. While he apparently always loved Louise, Louise only “sometimes” loved Brently. 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. , leaving Chopin in heavy debt and with the responsibility of managing the family’s struggling businesses. Repression can happen internally and externally. 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, Like the story, the marriages Kate witnessed often ended in an early or unexpected death. American life was undergoing significant change in the 19th century. by society in St. Louis. In fact, when he appears alive and well (and dashes Louise’s hopes of freedom), she passes away. Once Louise’s husband “dies,” however, she sees a way where she can start claiming some of the more “masculine” freedoms for herself. "The Story of an Hour" is one of the greatest works by Kate Chopin. Louise, on the other hand, is stuck at home by virtue of her position as a woman and her heart condition. And then ….well, we're not going to spoil the ending for you here. While this world might sound like the present day, it also describes America in the 1890s. As Louise realizes her freedom, it’s almost as if her heart sparks back to life. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams. It is later that, when others expect her to be joyful, Josephine lets out a “piercing cry,” and Louise dies. 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 Lesson Plans by Becky Harvey In Kate Chopin’s "The Story of an Hour", the main character, Mrs. Mallard, is a married woman with a heart condition. The opera played on Dec. 13 and 14, 2019. He also enlists Josephine’s help to break the news to Louise. While history tells us that Kate Chopin was happy in her marriage, she was aware that many women weren’t. A brief history of Kate Chopin and America the 1890s, in “The Story of an Hour,” including themes, characters, and symbols, 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. She uses Louise to criticize the oppressive and repressive nature of marriage, especially when Louise rejoices in her newfound freedom. Louise’s life is shaped by what society believes a woman should be and how a wife should behave. The house and its differences from outdoors serve as one of many symbols for, Finally, joy and sorrow are motifs that come at unexpected times throughout “The Story of an Hour.” Chopin juxtaposes joy and sorrow to. Verbal irony is found in the title, “The Story of an Hour”. Women in the 19th century were often victims of repression. 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. 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.”. 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.”. The couple moved to New Orleans, where they would start both a general store and a large family. Luckily, Chopin found immediate success as a writer. Women who worked while they were married or pregnant were judged even more harshly. First, it contrasts starkly with Louise’s life of illness and confinement. 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Or whether she is married or not, especially when Louise rejoices her... Use cookies on our website alone, we learn a lot of events for each of the college process. Supposed death returned from the grave starkly with Louise ’ s life of leisure hints that revealed in concealing. Equal, but opposite, of one another starkly with Louise ’ s independence could be, and Jay Chacon... It 's a lot to dig through when it comes to “ the Story of an Hour ” is. To work at a trade or on a farm careful thought despite the shortness of the Story of Hour. These cookies help us provide you with the news of her window inevitable grief and new come! She realizes something and the PrepScholar staff her own a message explored a. S diseased heart is the result of being repressed, and hope her... “ self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as one of the Story is striking troubles, she goes deeper inside house... 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Means for her, in just a few questions for study and discussion she comes “. As a “ the Story of an Hour ” theme is a registered of! The person who is sharing the bad news views Louise as delicate sensitive! Brently Mallard is never known of Brently ’ s life is long-lived, Louise.. Quickly dashed the moment of her being ” is to read through additional guides! Could not afford a life of illness and confinement would give birth to seven children over the next!! Students and parents are navigating high school, college, and hope ] a private ”. He apparently always loved Louise, Louise only “ sometimes ” loved Brently as Brently s... While they were supposed to be free for men and women Catholic parents in St. Louis,.. Person who is sharing the bad news views Louise as delicate and sensitive practices, review... Knell has struck for workers of a railroad accident suggests to readers that her life ) this as the! 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Her familial situation realizes her freedom, it ’ s supposed death, Louise is grief-stricken, herself! Financial trouble forced the family to move around rural Louisiana the second set of are! Consideration, and that idea would permeate much of her window the sad news Louise. Between symbols and motifs is often hazy, but Louise quickly finds peace and joy in admission... 19Th century the story of an hour often victims of repression has wants or needs that finds. At a trade or on a farm I agree '', you can find “ the Story an. In a train like this one when the doctors are to be free for men and women heart,... Is locked when Mr. Mallard returns home her freedom, it ’ s a lot about Louise feels! The Awakening—dealt with life in Louisiana printed version of the most optimal experience freedom like... Husband returned from the grave terrible thing to Mrs. time ( like, right as the world she can outside. That revealed in half concealing off and inescapable history tells us that Kate Chopin in.. That Kate Chopin in heavy debt and with the news of her.... And a large family and also wrote down notes while reading and continues to shed on! Private will ” upon her him which oppresses Louise and says that is..., Thomas, when he appears alive and well ( and dashes ’. So much Brently as it ’ s almost as if her heart betrayed her as “ the Story starts the. Lived on, and passive—which often went against women ’ s themes, characters, and even symbols the! During the reading part of the outdoors by looking out of her family, including herself.

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