An Hour Symbolism

“The Story of an Hour” is a short story written by Kate Chopin. In this story, there are a lot of symbols. They range from as little as an open window, to as big as heart disease. Symbols can be very crucial to literature, and the story’s meaning. The symbols in this story are very interesting to me. I do not think the story would be as meaningful as it is if they were not included. When Mrs. Mallard first goes up to her room, she is described as being, “pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.” (Chopin) into a “comfortable, roomy armchair.” (Chopin) I think that this chair is a symbol of her new life. At first, she sits because she cannot handle holding herself up any longer. Then she realizes that she is more comfortable in this new position than she ever was before. This is like her life. At first, she does
This heart disease comes in to play again in the last line of the story. The doctor tells everyone that Mrs. Mallard dies of “the joy that kills.” (Chopin) She is once again Mrs. Mallard because her husband is not dead after all. It was all a big misunderstanding. I agree that Mrs. Mallard died because of her heart. I do not think that it was from joy, however. I believe that Mrs. Mallard died from a broken heart. When her husband walks through that door, she is all of a sudden back under her husband’s thumb. She is so excited for her new life, and now she has lost everything in a blink of an eye.
The symbols make this story. They help you to understand exactly what Mrs. Mallard is going through. It is sometimes hard to put feelings into words, but everyone can understand that an open window with a blue sky and chirping bird is a happy thing. Most people associate spring with a new beginning. I really enjoyed looking into the deeper meanings of all of the symbols in this short