Kate Chopin Story of an Hour
In the 1890’s when Chopin lived, and wrote “The story of an hour” women were not equal. They did not have a life outside of their duties to the man in charge; whether it is their father, brother, or husband. The realization that her husband had not been killed in the train accident, therefor “When the doctors came, they said she had died of heart disease—of the joy that kills.” (Chopin 607) Overwhelming feelings of freedom, and then that loss of freedom are what killed Mrs. Mallard. Not what the doctors agreed to.
The story opens with Kate Chopin letting the readers know that Mrs. Mallard “was afflicted with a heart trouble” (Chopin 605) and that she needed to be told of her husband’s death bit by bit, not all at once. As her sister Josephine tells her the news she weeps “at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms” (Chopin 605). When all of Louise Mallard’s tears were shed then retreated to her room, unaided, and began to reflect on the message she just received. Slowly began to realize, now, she was “Free, free, free!”(Chopin 606). While Louise was aware that she would cry when she saw her husband for last time; seeing “the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead” (Chopin 606) she did not dwell on is horrid thought. She only considered that her life “would belong to her absolutely” (Chopin 606). With this revelation in hand she began to reflect on her life with Mr. Brently Mallard. Yes, she had loved him occasionally, mostly not. Soon her sister Josephine comes to inquire about her, assuming Louise is distraught and crying herself sick instead she finds Mrs. Mallard at peace with the death of her husband. As they descend the stairs to share their happiness with Richard, the man who broke the news to Josephine, the door opens and we see that Mr. Brently Mallard was not dead at all. “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease---of joy that kills.” (Chopin 607)
As I read over
The story opens with Kate Chopin letting the readers know that Mrs. Mallard “was afflicted with a heart trouble” (Chopin 605) and that she needed to be told of her husband’s death bit by bit, not all at once. As her sister Josephine tells her the news she weeps “at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms” (Chopin 605). When all of Louise Mallard’s tears were shed then retreated to her room, unaided, and began to reflect on the message she just received. Slowly began to realize, now, she was “Free, free, free!”(Chopin 606). While Louise was aware that she would cry when she saw her husband for last time; seeing “the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead” (Chopin 606) she did not dwell on is horrid thought. She only considered that her life “would belong to her absolutely” (Chopin 606). With this revelation in hand she began to reflect on her life with Mr. Brently Mallard. Yes, she had loved him occasionally, mostly not. Soon her sister Josephine comes to inquire about her, assuming Louise is distraught and crying herself sick instead she finds Mrs. Mallard at peace with the death of her husband. As they descend the stairs to share their happiness with Richard, the man who broke the news to Josephine, the door opens and we see that Mr. Brently Mallard was not dead at all. “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease---of joy that kills.” (Chopin 607)
As I read over