Symbolism as Found in Kate Chopins Story of an Hour Essay

Symbolism as found in Kate Chopin’s â€Å"Story of an Hour† In Kate Chopin’s â€Å"Story of an Hour† the protagonist, Louise Mallard, is going through a life-changing event that is brought on by the news of the death of her husband, Brently Mallard. During this hour, she is told of her husband’s death, grieves for a short time, discovers that she will now be able to â€Å"live for herself† (16) and is finally able to free herself of the restrictive marriage she has been living in. The end of her last hour comes when she sees her husband walking through the door. There are many varying opinions as to why she actually died. Chopin does not directly state what Richards, Brently Mallard’s close friend, is shielding from view or why Mrs. Mallard’s sister,†¦show more content†¦It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his gripsack and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of accident, and did not even know there had been one. He stood amazed at Josephineâ⠂¬â„¢s piercing cry; at Richards’ quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife.† (16) There is another scenario that may fit the story better than what is stated above based on the symbol given about her heart trouble. Mrs. Mallard could already have collapsed just before Brently walks in. Richards could be trying to save his friend from having to see his wife in this condition because Brently may also have a heart condition that is never discussed in the story. He may fear Brently having an attack along with Louise. Josephine’s cry could either be at the sight of Brently walking through the door, whom she thinks is already dead, or when she sees Mrs. Mallard collapse. One critic, Mark Cunningham, also believes that â€Å"Louise does not see him, and that the cause of her death lies elsewhere [and] makes the irony of the doctors’ statement that Louise dies of ‘joy that kills’ resound in ways that are more complex than the common understanding of its grants.† (Cunningham p. 1) In Dr. Kenefick’s class lecture, it was discussed why Mrs. Mallard is so joyful after thinking about her husband’s death. The story doesn’t make it seem like he was an unpleasant husband in any way and she even describes him as aShow MoreRelatedSymbolism In Kate Chopins The Story Of An Hour1013 Words   |  5 PagesWhile most of Kate Chopin’s short stories were well received, â€Å"The Story of an Hour† was originally rejected by publishers until 1894 when Vogue decided to publish the short story. However after her death most of Chopin’s work was forgotten, that was until the 1950s when her work again was recognized as insightful and moving, setting into motion a Kate Chopin revival which was both successful and remarkable (Biography). â€Å"The Story of an Hour† focuses on the liberation and new found freedom of a newlyRead MoreEssay about Symbolism in â€Å"The Story of an Hour†671 Words   |  3 Pages The symbols and imag ery used by Kate Chopins in â€Å"The Story of an Hour† give the reader a sense of Mrs. Mallard’s new life appearing before her through her view of an â€Å"open window† (para. 4). Louise Mallard experiences what most individuals long for throughout their lives; freedom and happiness. By spending an hour in a â€Å"comfortable, roomy armchair† (para.4) in front of an open window, she undergoes a transformation that makes her understand the importance of her freedom. The authors use of SpringRead MoreKate Chopins Short Story The Story of an Hour: An Analysis974 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Free At Last? Kate Chopins short story, The Story of an Hour is largely about the forms of repression that women were forced to endure during the epoch in which the story was written (1894) and during much of the time that preceded it. During this time period, women quite frequently had to subjugate themselves to the will of their husbands, or to some other man who had a significant amount of control over their lives. Chopin chooses to address this phenomenon in an indirect manner with thisRead More Feminist Perspectives in a Story of an Hour Essay example985 Words   |  4 PagesFeminist Perspectives in a Story of an Hour A Woman Far Ahead of Her Time, by Ann Bail Howard, discusses the nature of the female characters in Kate Chopin’s novel’s and short stories. Howard suggests that the women in Chopin’s stories are longing for independence and feel torn between the feminine duties of a married woman and the freedom associated with self-reliance. Howard’s view is correct to a point, but Chopin’s female characters can be viewed as more radically feminist than HowardRead MoreThe Storm by Kate Chopin1332 Words   |  6 Pagesnoticed about Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Storm,† is that it is utterly dripping with sexual imagery and symbolism. Our heroine, if you will, seems to be a woman with normally restrained passions and a well-defined sense of propriety, who finds herself in a situation that tears down her restraint and reveals the vixen within. I wonder if it was intentional that the name Calixta makes me think of Calypso – the nymph from Greek mythology. If half of the sexual symbolism I found in this story was intentionalRead MoreThe Story of the Hour Essays700 Words   |  3 PagesKate Chopin is known as a major feminist writer of the 19th century. She uses irony and symbolism to give insight to women’s roles in marriage and feminine identity. In â€Å"the story of an hour†, Chopin emphasizes the gloomy and almost slave-like status that women had in society in the late 1800’s. Chopin’s main character in this story, Mrs. Mallard, symbolizes all women of that time and the choices and treatment they had to endure. A major indication of the suppression our protagonist endures canRead More Critical Analysis of Mrs. Mallards Emotions in The Story of an Hour679 Words   |  3 PagesWrite a critical analysis of any aspect of The Story of an Hour which you found of interest and significance. Kate Chopins `The Story of an Hour is a short yet complex piece describing the feelings of Mrs Mallard. This story is overflowing with symbolism and imagery. The most prominent theme here is the longing for freedom. Chopin focuses on unfolding the emotional state of Mrs Mallard which can be separated into three stages: quickly moving to grief, through a sense of newfound freedom, andRead MoreStory Of An Hour Literary Analysis824 Words   |  4 Pagesis heartbreaking and rather unimaginable. â€Å"Sorry to say but your husband has died due to an accident.† No one wants to hear those words or go through the painful time. In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin’s, the death of her husband meant freedom and happiness. Chopin’s uses a great deal of symbolism throughout the story in order to depict the theme of freedom and happiness. Mrs. Mallard is the main character whom of which also known as Louise and she is married to Brently Mallard. Mrs. MallardsRead MoreIn Kate Chopin’S â€Å"The Story Of An Hour†, Kate Chopin Shows1602 Words   |  7 PagesIn Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour†, Kate Chopin shows the realistic possibility to show what wives secretly wanted in her days. She chooses a character with a symbolic as well as a literal heart condition to provide both internal and external conflicts in such a short story to end with an ending so ironic. All in all, the conflicts and symbols that Chopin uses in â€Å"The Story of an Hour† complimented each other to reveal the theme how the true feelings of oneself can be so powerful that metaphoricallyRead MoreA Dolls House And A Dolls House Essay1421 Words   |  6 Pages Henrik Ibsen one of his most famous literature works â€Å"A doll’s house† and Kate Chopin’s short story â€Å"The story of an hour† portrays to the Victorian era, when women didn’t have rights. Both authors were born in an era where women didn’t have rights, and that women faced many aspects in life, such as being submissive to their husband’s, they were viewed as possessions than as people, and live a life that they didn’t want to live during the Victorian age. Even though Ibsen did not live the life of