Mallard's Emotions
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin is an intriguing story that focuses on the feelings of a recently widowed woman. It takes place in the late 1800’s in the home of a Mrs. Mallard. The story brings us through the rollercoaster of emotions that Mrs. Mallard goes threw when she hears of her husband’s sudden death. From the moment she finds out about her husbands death until the end of the story Mrs. Mallards reactions continuously defy the social expectations of her time.
From the beginning of the story we know that Mrs. Mallard is different from the average women of her generation. Chopin makes this clear by saying “she did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She …show more content…
Mallard’s emotions began to change. Chopin depicts this scene by explaining that “She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless, except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her head, as a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dream.” (198) We see that Mrs. Mallard has moved into a state of numbness as she contemplates the news. While in this state she begins to have mixed thought about her husband’s death. Chopin clarifies this by saying that “there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away of yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought. ” (198) This shows that Mrs. Mallard was not overcome with the sadness of her husbands death rather she was beginning to think about her life in the absence of his presence. “There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was subtle and elusive to name.” (Chopin 198) She was overcome with confusion and uncertainty as to how she felt. She knew she was meant to be in a state of depression and mourning yet she could not control these other thoughts and feelings that she was beginning to
From the beginning of the story we know that Mrs. Mallard is different from the average women of her generation. Chopin makes this clear by saying “she did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She …show more content…
Mallard’s emotions began to change. Chopin depicts this scene by explaining that “She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless, except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her head, as a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dream.” (198) We see that Mrs. Mallard has moved into a state of numbness as she contemplates the news. While in this state she begins to have mixed thought about her husband’s death. Chopin clarifies this by saying that “there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away of yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought. ” (198) This shows that Mrs. Mallard was not overcome with the sadness of her husbands death rather she was beginning to think about her life in the absence of his presence. “There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was subtle and elusive to name.” (Chopin 198) She was overcome with confusion and uncertainty as to how she felt. She knew she was meant to be in a state of depression and mourning yet she could not control these other thoughts and feelings that she was beginning to