Story of an Hour Literary Analysis Essay Sample

Kate Chopin suffered a Brain bleed and died on August 22,1904 she lived a very long life. Chopin was an American author who was born February 8,1850. Chopin wrote ¨The Story of an Hour¨ in The late 1800´s; it was published on December 6, 1894. ¨The story of an Hour¨ Follows Lousie Mallard or Mrs. Mallard as the protagonist , who has just been told her husband Brentley Mallard, has died. Mrs Mallard is informed by the information by her sister Josephine. This story is significant today because it shows how trapped women are and how women still don't have that much freedom. In ¨The Story of an Hour¨,Kate Chopin uses Characters to demonstrate themes of Freedom, Time, and Identity.

Kate Chopin uses the character of Mrs.Mallard to demonstrate the idea of freedom because she realizes that she can live for herself and do whatever she wants to do in life.The short story states, The short story states, ¨Her fancy was running riot along those days ahead of her. Spring days, and summer days, all sorts of days that would be her own. She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long.The short story states, ¨It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long¨(Chopin). This quote shows freedom and how Mrs.Mallard is finally able to do whatever she wants because her husband Brentaly Mallard is dead. She says ¨Free Free Free¨ over and over because she can live for herself and not be told what to do anymore. She's finally free and can live for herself. The short story states, ¨It is at this point that she begins to think, the point at which she is reborn through and in her body¨(Papke). Mrs.Mallard finally realizes that she is alive and free. Papke says she is reborn and in her body, Mrs.Mallard looks out her window and finally realizes that she can do what other women do when they're not married. Chopin does a good job by demonstrating freedom by using the character Mrs.Mallard. 

Kate Chopin uses Mrs.Mallard sister Josephine to demonstrate the idea of freedom because her sister has more freedom than her since she's not married. The short story states, ¨It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing¨(Chopin). Her sister Josephine tells her sister that her husband Mr. Mallard died in a train wreck. This means that Josephine doesn't understand how her sister is imprisoned because she's not married. The short story states, ¨This is no doubt ironic since her sister only unconsciously recognizes her; she can have little idea of the revolution that has taken place in Louise's own room.¨(Papke). Mrs. Mallard was sad when Josephine had told her that her husband had died, but a couple minutes later she saw Mrs. Mallard open the door smiling. This independence is best represented in Mrs. Mallard's own speech, when she whispers to herself, "free, free, free!¨ While looking out the window smiling. Chopin does a good job by demonstrating freedom by using the characters Josephine and Mrs.Mallard.  

Kate Chopin uses the character of Mrs.Mallard to demonstrate the idea of time and how her ¨freedom¨ cost her life.The short story states, ¨When the doctor came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills¨(Chopin).  The doctor thinks that Mrs.Mallard died of Joy when she sees her husband Brently Mallard walk through the door. Mrs. Mallard thought she was free and had to much Joy and happiness and when she sees Brently walk through the door she realized she wasn't free after all.¨His return from the dead kills Louise, and Chopin's conclusion is the critical and caustic remark that all believed "she had died of heart disease—of joy that kills"(Pakpe) . At first Mrs. Mallard was in her room crying; she then realized that she was free from her husband Brently Mallard, which fills her with Joy and happiness. Mrs.Mallard is soon overcome with despair when she sees her husband walk through the door alive. Chopin does a good job by demonstrating time by using the character Mrs.Mallard.  

Kate Chopin uses the character of Josephine to demonstrate the idea of time and how she can see how easily a person can change. The short story states, ``She arose at length and opened the door to her sister's importunities. There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory. She clasped her sister´s waist, and together they descended the stairs. Richards stood waiting for them at the bottom¨(Koloski). Mrs. Mallard opened the door smiling and walked down the stairs to see her husband alive. Josephine held tight on her sister because she thought that she was still sad. What Josephine didn't know is that her sister wasn't sad , she was actually happy.The short story states, ¨She said it over and over under her breath: "free, free, free!" The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body  ̈.(Koloski) Mrs. Mallard was feeling an overwhelming sensation of being happy, more happier than ever. Mrs. Mallard's eyes lit up when the thought of being free came to her mind, but she was also scared because she didn't know what to do in the real world because her husband always told her what to do. Chopin does a good job by demonstrating time by using the characters Josephine and Mrs. Mallard. 

Kate Chopin uses the character of Mrs.Mallard to demonstrate the idea of Identity because she starts to finally see her real self.The short story states, ¨What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being¨(Koloski). Mrs. Mallard finally saw the real her, not just a housewife that does everything her husband says but a woman who is finally starting to live for herself. She starts to feel independent, feeling like she can live for herself and nobody else. The short story states ¨But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome ̈.(Koloski). She saw her life being better than the one she has now, More freedom, More time to herself, not taking any instructions from anybody. Mrs.Mallard isn't completely sad that her husband has passed, she sees her future, she's alone, she's happy and she likes it. Chopin does a good job by demonstrating identity by using the character Mrs.Mallard. 

Kate Chopin uses the character of Josephine to demonstrate the idea of identity, of being a good sister to Mrs.Mallard. The short story states, ¨Louise, open the door! I beg; open the door--you will make yourself ill. What are you doing, Louise? For heaven's sake, open the door.¨(Chopin). Josephine Thought Mrs. Mallard was sad over her husband's death, which was not the case. Mrs.Mallard was actually happy for once and started to feel free and open to the world. Josephine wants Mrs.Mallard to open the door because she thinks her sister is suffering from grief. But as far as we know, Mrs.Mallard is feeling a sensation of relief.¨It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing ̈.(Koloski). Josephine is so worried about comforting Mrs.Mallard that we don't know how Josephine feels about Mrs.Mallard husband herself. Later in the story Mrs.Mallard opens the door and Josephine collapses to her knees and tries to comfort Mrs.Mallard but Mrs.Mallard is not crying she's smiling. Chopin does a good job demonstrating identity by using the characters Mrs.Mallard and Josephine. 

In the short story Chopin uses Brentaly, Lousie Mallard and Josephine to demonstrate themes of Freedom, Time and Identify. Chopin uses Mrs.Mallard to demonstrate the theme of freedom. Chopin uses Josephine to demonstrate the theme of time. Chopin uses Mrs.Mallard to demonstrate the theme of identity. This short story is very important because Chopin shows the repressive role of marriage played in women's lives in the 1800s and how the social living space and how established social norms were a 100 years ago. Readers can learn a lot of things by reading Chopin´s work.