Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis Essay
The art of storytelling is one of an intricate process. When it comes to relaying a message the process in which this occurs varies between the artists of the craft. Kate Chopin has a literary style that is dependent on techniques such as Irony, Juxtaposition, and Symbolism to bring this short story to life and leave an impact on the reader. Through these literary devices Kate Chopin is able to add emphasis on her on beliefs and attitudes that alter the perception on female roles in the text and at the time this short story was composed. The Story of an Hour is engulfed in one giant juxtaposition after the other. “There were patches of blue sky…above the other in the west facing her window.” (Chopin line 20-21) The moment of disturbing news
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Mallard gain its own spotlight to build this meek character a backbone that Chopin purposely refuses to give her. “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard… possible the news of her husband’s death.” (Chopin lines 1-2) the symbolism of the heart depicts Mrs. Mallard as weak hearted and that any devastating news will send her into shock and utmost depression at the loss. The spineless and almost pathetic ability to tell Mrs. Mallard the news without “breaking her heart” adds onto the societal gender assignment of women being overly sentimental creatures that need protecting in order to move on with their day to day lives. The euphemism of the heart trouble takes on a dual meaning in the prose as well. Not only does it highlight the physical illness that surrounds Mrs. Mallard and thus creates the tenderness other must exhibit towards this difficult matter; the heart does not mean the Western idea of love that is normally assigned to this organ. By calling it heart trouble it puts more emphasis on the idea of the marriage being a distressing occurrence on her heart and allows for the supposed love in the marriage to be dismissed easily. “What did it matter!” (Chopin line 51) The heart trouble now becomes one of an emotional kind rather than the physical kind that is assumed at the beginning of the text. Through Chopin’s extensive use of symbolism she allows her female role, Mrs. Mallard a deep and human quality that is normally not expressed in the Victorian era in which this was written. She allows Mrs. Mallard a deeper complex and emphasizes the psychological subjugation by the sexes that she cannot openly
Mallard gain its own spotlight to build this meek character a backbone that Chopin purposely refuses to give her. “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard… possible the news of her husband’s death.” (Chopin lines 1-2) the symbolism of the heart depicts Mrs. Mallard as weak hearted and that any devastating news will send her into shock and utmost depression at the loss. The spineless and almost pathetic ability to tell Mrs. Mallard the news without “breaking her heart” adds onto the societal gender assignment of women being overly sentimental creatures that need protecting in order to move on with their day to day lives. The euphemism of the heart trouble takes on a dual meaning in the prose as well. Not only does it highlight the physical illness that surrounds Mrs. Mallard and thus creates the tenderness other must exhibit towards this difficult matter; the heart does not mean the Western idea of love that is normally assigned to this organ. By calling it heart trouble it puts more emphasis on the idea of the marriage being a distressing occurrence on her heart and allows for the supposed love in the marriage to be dismissed easily. “What did it matter!” (Chopin line 51) The heart trouble now becomes one of an emotional kind rather than the physical kind that is assumed at the beginning of the text. Through Chopin’s extensive use of symbolism she allows her female role, Mrs. Mallard a deep and human quality that is normally not expressed in the Victorian era in which this was written. She allows Mrs. Mallard a deeper complex and emphasizes the psychological subjugation by the sexes that she cannot openly