Introduction
This paper will provide a summary and an analysis of “The Story of an Hour,” a short story by Kate Chopin published in 1894. Despite being only several pages long, the passage has become popular among readers. The title refers to the fact that the plot revolves around a woman and what she experiences throughout one hour. Within several pages, Kate Chopin managed to encompass the themes of freedom and oppression, simultaneously using irony.
Summary
Mrs. Mallard, the protagonist of the story, learns that her husband died as a result of a train accident. At first, the woman starts grieving, but as she spends minutes in solitude, she comes to the realization that she is now free (Chopin). The death of her husband, although an adverse event, is to bring positive items, such as independence. Mrs. Mallard understands that the rest of the life she has will be spent the way she wants (Chopin). After this insight, the woman feels happier, and the sadness is gone. Having spent some moments dreaming of a long life in freedom, she comes down the stairs only to see her husband enter the house alive and safe (Chopin). Mrs. Mallard has a heart stroke and dies, and doctors conclude that the extreme happiness of seeing her husband alive caused the death.
Analysis
Despite being the right of every person, freedom is an expensive privilege. African Americans have fought for centuries to end slavery, while women are still struggling to enjoy the same conditions as men. In the 19th century, women’s rights were not the same as today, and independence was non-existent. Chopin’s story reflects this fact – Mrs. Mallard utters the word “free” when she is alone in her room. For women of those times, freedom was not the topic to discuss in public. It was almost a taboo subject to talk about with others.
The joy of being independent was only felt by men, which is why Mrs. Mallard thought no one would understand and accept her happiness. Therefore, she continues to dream about her future alone without her husband. In the beginning, she attempts to resist the favorable feelings she is having. This fact indicates that for women, freedom and equal rights were forbidden fruit. After excitement fills her, Mrs. Mallard starts praying for long life and planning how she will spend the time that is now hers entirely. He suggests that the story reflects the struggles of women of those times in achieving their modern ethical identities (2). In other words, rights and privileges that are enjoyed by women of the 21st century were non-existent for women several centuries ago, and one needs to embrace these hard-won rights.
Another interesting point to consider is the fact that Mrs. Mallard is joyful even though she did not feel animosity toward her husband. In fact, she admits that her marriage was happy, and her husband loved her and was kind. Nevertheless, Mrs. Mallard becomes uplifted despite crying in the beginning. One may suggest that the writer wants to indicate that all marriages are oppressive in nature. Women have to part with their time and independence in order to care for their husbands and children, whereas men have to spend their lives working in order to provide for their families. However, Chopin does not give any specific examples of why marriages are oppressive. Instead, she states that unions are inherently burdensome for both men and women. The news of Mr. Mallard’s death releases the protagonist from this burden. After she realizes that her marriage persists, the woman has a shock that leads to death.
The nature of her weeping supports the idea that marriages are oppressive. Mrs. Mallard cries when she thinks of her husband, but as soon as she starts thinking of independence, it is replaced with joy. In other words, life with her husband is associated with tears and sorrow, while thoughts of freedom immediately bring happiness. This transition represents the contrast between oppressive marriage and delightful independence.
There is an ironic moment that is important to consider. Doctors that arrive to inspect Mrs. Mallard after she dies inform her that the woman died because of the joy of seeing her husband alive. This moment is ironic because doctors in the 19th century were mostly men. Men would never realize that women need independence in the same way as them. It would never occur to a male doctor that the woman died because she lost her newly acquired freedom. This irony reinforces the fact that women had to speak and demand and equal rights would not have been achieved otherwise. Only through continuous struggles and fights, it was possible for women to achieve the comforts enjoyed today.
Conclusion
“The Story of an Hour” is one of the most famous works of Kate Chopin. This short reading narrates the story of a woman that feels optimistic about her husband’s death as she realizes that the rest of her life can be spent in freedom. Kate Chopin wanted to explain that all marriages are oppressive by nature for both women and men, and independence is desired by all women, which the author explicitly highlighted by using the bitter irony.
Works Cited
Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” The Kate Chopin International Society¸ 2020.
Hu, Aihua. “The Story of an Hour: Mrs. Mallard’s Ethically Tragic Song.” ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews, 2020, pp. 1-7.