Theme of Emotions in Kate Chopin's the Story of an Hour Essay Sample

Author Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” is a gothic American short story written in 1894. This narrative tells the tale of Louise Mallard receiving news of her husband’s sudden passing. She learns the news from her sister and a close friend of her husband. Mrs. Mallard is distraught for only a moment until she realizes she is no longer under the control of her husband anymore and the words “free, free, free!” (Chopin) escape from her mouth. She no longer has to present disingenuous behavior. Later, her sister Josephine escorts her down the stairs only to see Brently Mallard still alive. Between her heart problems and immense shock, Mrs. Mallard died and was only free for an hour. While examining Chopins’ short story, she emplements Aristotle’s Appeals by displaying the emotional struggle of a woman who feels trapped in her marriage.

The emotions throughout this story are both sorrowful and joyful which is what makes this story so powerful. “And yet she had loved him--sometimes. Often she had not. 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! ‘Free! Body and soul free!’ she kept whispering” (Chopin). We see this strong emotion of Louise finally experiencing pure joy after years of never being happy. The word choice the author applies makes the reader experience what Louise is feeling at the moment. Her words provoke emotions in our mind wondering what is going to happen next? Louise has felt trapped by her husband for years and now that she thinks he is dead she is just now feeling some sort of relief. She is being slightly unethical for being thankful that he is now dead instead of talking to him, but it is the 1800 and if a woman was somewhat unapeased with her husband she could have gotten killed. 

While Chopin initially hooked the readers with her joyful emotions, the sorrowful ending is what the reader will talk about. “Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of the accident, and did not even know there had been one. He stood amazed at Josephine's piercing cry; at Richards' quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife. When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills”(Chopin). The reader feels a whirlwind of intense emotions while watching Louise go from feeling trapped to happiness and freedom, only for her husband to return. Emotionally distraught by the revelation that her husband is still alive Louise’s physical body succumbs to death. Chopin employs Aristotle’s appeals to get the readers to feel like they are Louise so they are more in touch with the story. It was very unethical for Louise to get so upset that she died from shock when her husband walked through the door. Although it would be a big suprise to me aswel if I had just heard the news that my husband had just passed away, and then an hour later he walked through the door like nothing happened. I feel as though if she passed out it would have been more ethical, but dying is just a bit extreem. 

The authors pupose to penning this tale is to reach out to those who feel as though they are emotionally trapped. For example, Chopin addresses the woman of the story as Mrs. Mallard, the wife of Brently. After her freedom she is referred to as Louise. This reveals the repression Chopin is trying to portray about our main character. Chopins hopes for various reactions was to shed light on the intended and unintended oppression of women in society. Women in the 1800 were treated more like male accessories than individuals. This could sometimes lead to oppression through unhappy marriages. Chopin utilizes Aristotles Appeals by displaying the emotional struggle of Louise. The story ends with Louis dying at the sight of her husband and now being truely free. The author chose to end the story in this manner so that Louise could have ultimate freedom from her unhappy mariage. Chopin did Louise unhappy so ultimately it would be best for Louise to die than to live unhappy. For in her death, “she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window” (Chopin).