Description about The Story of an Hour

“The Story of an Hour,” written by Kate Chopin, is set in the last decade of the 19th century.

In the story, a woman, Louise Mallard, learns of her husband’s death in a rail accident from a close friend. As the story develops, Mrs. Mallard copes with her husband’s death in many ways. The setting and time period of the story affect the reader much more than any of the other elements of fiction, and life in the 1890s was drastically different than the life we know today.

Therefore, if it is not understood how life in the 19th century was for women, it would be hard to understand the purpose and effect this story would have on readers of that time. Women throughout history have felt the pressure and anxiety to live up to standards set forth by their fathers and husbands. During the 1890s, women were simply thought of as property and nothing more. In “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, Louise Mallard gets to experience the freedom that is attained when widowed during the 1800’s. Mrs.

Mallard is taken from extreme oppression and dependence to unbelievable freedom and happiness within the span of an hour.The tragedy Mr. Mallard was involved in was not uncommon for this time period. Rail cars were the main form of transportation of goods at this time, and were used across the United States. It would also not be uncommon for Richards to hear of Mr.

Mallard’s death by telegraph. A telegraph requires both the sender of the message and the receiver to understand Morse code. It is possible that, somehow, along the line of communication, Mr. Mallard’s name was misunderstood. If this did occur, it could be the reason that Mrs.

Mallard was informed of his death, when in fact he was nowhere near the scene of the accident. The role of women in society has changed dramatically over the last century; therefore, it is often hard for women in today’s society to grasp the oppression that females in the 1800’s faced. They are just now, in 21st century, being thought of as equal to men and are no longer seen as property or possessions. During the 19th century, however, women were totally dependent on the men in their lives, and were expected to “reward [their] male protector’s with affection and submission” (Smith-Rosinburg 652-678.

)When women were not submissive, they often got left or abused by their men, and were forced to struggle financially due to low numbers of women in the workplace. Women, during this time, were also thought to be very fragile. Young girls of the 19th century were forced to wear sunbonnets and were sometimes prescribed gloves to wear to help protect their femininity (Collins). Chopin describes Louise Mallard as a fragile woman in the beginning of the story, but gradually, as the news of Mr. Mallards death is found out, changes her into a strong independent character.In “The Story of an Hour,” the idea of the fragility and dependence of women is seen in many circumstances.

The first time Chopin mentions this idea is in the way the news of her husband’s death is broken to Louise Mallard. The news was revealed to her “in broken sentences” and “veiled hints” by her sister, to avoid upsetting her heart trouble (Chopin 22) The indication that Mrs. Mallard is “afflicted with a heart trouble,” (Chopin 22) also reinforces the fragile state of women. It can even be argued that Louise is not literally afflicted with heart trouble but is suffering from an identity crisis.

In her article, Selina Jamil states that “Mrs. Mallard’s ‘heart trouble’ is not so much a physical ailment, as the other characters in the story think, as a sign of a woman who as unconsciously surrendered her heart (i. e. , her identity as an individual) to the culture of paternalism” (3). Therefore, when Mrs.

Mallard learns that her husband is alive, she is unable to surrender herself totally to his “bending will” (Chopin 23) again and she dies. When Louise learns of her husband’s death, there is a physical change related to her freedom.Chopin writes “There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of victory” (23) when she realizes that she has gained the independence that she longed for. Her eyes “stayed keen and bright” and her “coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body” (23. ) Mrs. Mallard has become her own person.

She is “Free! Body and soul free! ” (23) The change in the way she carries herself and the way she looks can be linked directly to the freedom she would have felt when widowed. Louise Mallard undergoes an emotional change as well when she learns of her husband’s death.Chopin does an excellent job of portraying the emotional and physical changes that occur when Louise realizes that she is free. One way that her change in emotion is exhibited is in the way that the reader learns about what she is thinking. Chopin makes a point to emphasize the freedom that Mrs.

Mallard feels by allowing us to delve into her deepest longings and desires. While she is in the room, still realizing that she is free, Louise’s thoughts are explained and open for the reader to interpret. When Louise exit is the room and understands that she is independent now, her thoughts are her own (Cunningham 3.)No longer can anyone see or interfere with what is in her mind, now she thinks for herself.

Chopin also addresses Mrs. Mallard differently once she becomes an independent woman. Instead of referring to her as Mrs. Mallard, she changes her title and calls her Louise (Cunningham 6. ) She is a strong independent women who is no longer referred to by her husband’s name, but her own.

The spring view outside of the window also plays an important role in the emotion Louise feels. Spring often represents a new beginning when analyzing a story.The spring view outside Mrs. Mallard’s window represents the beginning of a new life without the control of her husband. It shows the beginning of her freedom and her ability to make decisions for herself.

Another way to view the spring setting is that they have just now gotten out of the dreariness of winter. When analyzing a story, winter is often used to portray isolation and depression. With this understanding we can see the parallel of Mrs. Mallard’s relationship to the changing of the seasons. When her husband dies, she comes out of a time of oppression and isolation into a time of renewal and freedom.Jamal points out that, “as nature returns to life after winter, so Louise’s emotions return to life after a prolonged winter of patriarchal confinement” (Para.

9. ) She can now think and feel whatever she wants, without having to fear upsetting a man. When one takes into account the time that this story is written, it is soon understood that there is some situational irony that shows up within the pages. Jamil writes “For one hour of emotion, Louise does glimpse meaning and fulfillment” (para. 12).

What she does not realize is that there is no freedom waiting for her on the other side of Brently’s death.Women in the 19th century were just beginning to work outside of the house with men; however, it was rare for them to be able to support themselves on the wages that they would have made (Collins. ) Even if Louise began working, she would either have to marry another man, or move in with her father to survive, placing her in a position of submission once again. Louise is excited that “there would be no one to live for those coming years; she would live for herself” (Chopin 23); however, “[she] will have gained autonomy only to find she has no life to lead” (Cunningham 11.)Although she feels that her sense of independence can no longer be smothered, Louise will soon realize, when she tries to enter the job market as a single woman, that she is incapable of being totally free from male suppression.

Some would even argue that the thought that she could continue life as usual after her husband’s death would have been “much too radical” (Toth para. 10) for people of the 19th century. If Mrs. Mallard had lived without her husband and was successful, it would break down all stereotypes of women in the 1890s and would cause outrage for male readers in that time period.The way that a reader interprets a piece of literature directly relates to their understanding of the time period of which the story takes place and the social norms of the time. When analyzing “The Story of an Hour” it is important to remember that women’s rights were not the same as they are today, and the freedom that Louise felt is incomprehensible unless the reader has been suppressed by someone held in higher esteem than themselves.

The struggles that women faced in the 1800’s can be seen within the few short pages of this story and should not be forgotten.