The Story of an Hour the Story

If, in today’s world, a teenage girl was told that her future had been decided a long time ago, she would probably not take the matter lightly.   During the early twentieth century though it was quite different.   In a time bent on the notion that when a woman reached a certain age, she should be married, Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” brings a different idea to a world that was not close to changing anytime soon.   Her story brings light to a fact that is fairly accepted by today’s society, but was shunned during her time.   Life before this time demanded that women should get married due to necessity.   Most of America was still rural and women were needed to do certain task on the farm.   When industrialization came along though, things became simpler, cities grew, and there were more choices for people to do. Women were not tied down on the farm any more.   Her story shows one woman’s chance to be what she wanted to be and not be looked down upon in her society.   Chopin gives light on women having more freedom to do what they wanted to do in regards to marriage.
The story begins with the news of the death of Mrs. Mallard’s husband.   She takes the news hard at first, but when she is alone in her room, the setting of the room does not convey a scene of sorrow. The setting of the room shows many signs of renewal or rebirths.   It suggests that it is a rebirth for Mrs. Mallard.   In many respects, it shows a much bigger scene.   Mrs. Mallard could be thought of as a symbol of all young women and the death of Mr. Mallard could be the death of the age-old idea that woman should get married. The window is open and the outside world envelops the room.   It is springtime and there is new life hurrying all around, a time of rebirth, and a time to start again.   There is rain falling, washing stuff away, cleaning things. She was also facing west with clouds everywhere, but there was blue sky breaking through the darkened horizon.... [continues]

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