Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour narrates about an ill woman Louise whose husband died, but she accepted this news with much joy and happiness. Most widows would have reacted mournfully to the death of their loved ones, but Louise responded carelessly. The main character was glad of her spouse’s demise because she believed she had received the liberation she had lost with him. Hence, the story is a brilliant example of male dominance in a 19th-century society where women were considered weak without manly power.
In The Story of an Hour, it is known that Mrs. Mallard had heart problems, so when her husband deceased, her family was conscientious about reporting his death. At first, she felt numb and shocked and desired to be completely alone to get over that loss. As soon as Louise was left alone, she recognized the attractive and engaging beauty of everything that surrounded her; after that moment, she began to look at life with optimism. She even started thinking about all the good times she would have had since her husband was dead. This fact proves that her spouse dominated her and constrained her freedom in some way, even though it is not clearly stated in the text.
The critical feminist view of this story focused on the expectations placed on women in connection with the establishment of marriage. According to the text, “there would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature” (Chopin, 2014, p. 3). This is a perfect example of the marriage’s nature at the end of the 19th century, in which it was a husband who had to superimpose his desires and wills on a wife. Louise also believed that their matrimony was a cruel intention almost equal to a crime. It means that the real problem was not in people but her marriage. Even though Louise’s spouse had right and kind intentions, his evil nature took its toll on limiting her freedom. Hence, men still had more power and could control everything in females’ lives.
Louise could not be titled “a free woman”; she often felt helpless and would always obey her husband’s directives. It means she should live for her spouse, not for herself. The feminist point of view shows that marriages did not allow women to feel any sense of freedom. Therefore, women were highly abused in the 19th century, especially in the matrimonies of that time. It presumes that males had a right to define the destiny of females which seems unbelievable in modern realities. By not having enough freedom, they were not able to work or receive an education which halted their self-development. As a result, women were merely suppressed and did not have a choice but to be meek and patient.
In conclusion, The Story of an Hour shows that the feeling of freedom that Louise did not have was an impediment to a happy life. She praised the miracle of liberation from her domineering husband’s death. Even though she did not feel any pain from her spouse’s demise, society viewed her as helpless and weak. It proves that the male-dominating surrounding did not let her live a whole life.
Reference
Chopin, K. (2014). The story of an hour: Short story. HarperPerennial Classics.