The Story of an Hour Essay -- English Literature

The Story of an HourIn 1894, Kate Chopin wrote, The Story of an Hour. In this fictionaltale the author describes the experience of Louise Mallard, a womanwith amount of money trouble, immediately after receiving news of her husbandsdeath. Unlike the expected reaction, Louise actually has a moment ofrelief realizing the freedoms she now has, which were taken from herby an unhappy marriage. all the events of the story take place withinan hour in Louises home. In the final minutes of the hour, Mrs.Mallard is shocked to see that her husband walks done the frontdoor alive and well, which causes her to have a heart round down and die.While her family believes she had a heart attack because she wasover triumphed, the author leads us to decide the heart attack wasactually caused by her realization that the freedoms she lookedforward likewise were no longer a reality. Kate Chopins description ofwhat the main character feels and sees shows us how this is possible.The story is very well w ritten as it flows from one split up toanother each presenting a new idea or data for the reader. Thestory begins by informing us that Louises husband, Brently Mallard,was killed in a rail line disaster. Being that Louise has a heartcondition, her family was concerned with how she would react to thebad news. Her sister, Josephine, stone-broke the news to her. Sheimmediately cried as expected but the interesting get out of the story iswhen she goes into her room and locks the door. While Mrs. Mallard isslouched in a extend her experience doesnt feel that tragic at all.The mood is rather pacific and relaxing. The reader is reminded moreof a sunny day than a swarthy sky. At this point it is almost confusingbut Kate Chopin... ...theprisoner is put option in handcuffs and taken back to his cell where he isreminded he will be for life. Imagine the mental strain that wouldcause the prisoner. I believe Mrs. Mallards situation to be verysimilar. This is why after detailed review of the text I am convincedthat Louises reaction to eyesight her husband was so far alive, wascomplete disappointment rather than joy. It was all her new hopesand dreams of a future of happiness destroyed due to the fact shewould still be a wife. Just as Josephine was wrong about what Louisewas outlet through in the bedroom, the doctors were wrong by saying shedied of a joy that kills.(315)WORKS CITEDChopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. Literature and Society AnIntroduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Nonfiction. Eds. Pamela J.Annas and Robert C. Rosen. New island of Jersey Prentice Hall, 2000. 313-316.