Introduction
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin is a short story in which the protagonist, Louise, gains freedom from her husband’s death, only to lose it when the news proves false. This realization steals her joy, and Louise dies as she cannot face life with her spouse again. To better understand the context of the short story and the tragedy behind the woman’s determination for freedom, it is essential to review articles by Ahmetspahić and Kahrić and Podlasli-Labrenz, which explore the social and philosophical meanings of independence.
Ahmetspahić and Kahrić’s Article
Summary
The article by Ahmetspahić and Kahrić was found in the JSCC Libraries. The authors of the scholarly paper claim that the repression of females is so intense in “The Story of an Hour” that the protagonist does not recognize it before she receives the news. Thus, Louise understands she was not independent and happy in her marriage when learning about her husband’s death. However, this realization does not scare or confuse her to the point of rejecting her thought. Instead, she begins to look forward to enjoying this freedom.
Ahmetspahić and Kahrić write that “by being so courageous, although internally, Louise can stand against the norms of society, and she even questions the standardized qualities of matrimony, whereas the protagonist simply sees marriage as something which confines her” (32). As a result, the article highlights that Chopin viewed some females of that century as oppressed but able to resist males’ domination.
Response
Overall, the scholarly paper presents a credible and logical argument because it is supported by references to other academics’ works and scenes from the initial text. I agree with Ahmetspahić and Kahrić because Louise questions her thoughts for a moment, but then finds the courage to oppose social norms, even though she does so internally. When recognizing her new feeling, “she was striving to beat it back with her will,” but instead “opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome” (Chopin). One way to strengthen the article’s argument is to expand on the historical context and connect the short story’s concepts to modern women and feminism.
Podlasli-Labrenz’s Article
Summary
In the second article I found in the JSCC Libraries, Podlasli-Labrenz uses Jean Paul Sartre’s philosophy of existentialism to explain the central idea of freedom in “The Story of an Hour.” According to Podlasli-Labrenz, Chopin demonstrates that “individual circumstances substantially condition the meaning of freedom and the choices that lead to freedom, though the yearning for freedom creates a basic, essential part of each woman’s being” (63). The author explains that the circumstances in which Louise finds herself are somewhat unique. Still, her happiness about the possibility of living independently, accompanied by fear and anguish, is ordinary for all humans.
Response
Supported by references to other scholars and philosophers and strengthened by detailed explanations of quotes, the article presents a robust and credible argument. I agree with Podlasli-Labrenz and think that Louise had probably always sought freedom, though subconsciously, as is typical among humans. She knew she would miss her husband, but “she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely,” and this absolute determination for independence is explained by existentialism (Chopin). To strengthen the argument, the author could have discussed the moment of Loise’s death in more detail and more effectively referenced the philosophical concepts.
Conclusion
To conclude, both scholarly papers discuss the same topic of freedom but adopt different perspectives. Ahmetspahić and Kahrić analyze Louise’s experience through social and feminist lenses, while Podlasli-Labrenz adopts a particular philosophical approach. However, both articles highlight the somewhat inevitability of the protagonist’s search for and fear of freedom. In my opinion, Chopin’s short story successfully reveals how independence might scare people, especially women, while also attracting them, and the articles explain why this happens.
Works Cited
Ahmetspahić, Adisa, and Damir Kahrić. “It’s a Man’s World: Re-Examination of the Female Perspective in Chopin’s “Désirée’s Baby” and “The Story of an Hour”.” ESSEMessenger, vol. 29, no. 1, 2020, pp. 23-37.
Chopin, Kate. “The Story of An Hour.” Virginia Commonwealth University, 1894.
Podlasli-Labrenz, Heidi. “Revealing the Essential Self”: Sartrean Existentialism in Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and “A Pair of Silk Stockings”.” An Interdisciplinary Journal of the South, vol. 23, no. 2, 2016, pp. 62-78.