The Story of an Hour Essay -- English Literature

The Story of an HourIn 1894, Kate Chopin wrote, The Story of an Hour. In this fictionaltale the author describes the experience of Louise Mallard, a womanwith tinder trouble, immediately after receiving news of her husbandsdeath. Unlike the expected reaction, Louise actually has a moment ofrelief realizing the freedoms she now has, which were taken from herby an unhappy marriage. completely the events of the story take place withinan hour in Louises home. In the final minutes of the hour, Mrs.Mallard is shocked to see that her husband walks through and through the frontdoor alive and well, which causes her to have a heart bombardment and die.While her family believes she had a heart attack because she wasover jubilateed, the author leads us to reason out the heart attack wasactually caused by her realization that the freedoms she lookedforward excessively were no longer a reality. Kate Chopins description ofwhat the main character feels and sees shows us how this is possible.The story is very well written as it flows from one paragraph toanother each presenting a new idea or schooling for the reader. Thestory begins by informing us that Louises husband, Brently Mallard,was killed in a stun disaster. Being that Louise has a heartcondition, her family was concerned with how she would react to thebad news. Her sister, Josephine, stone-broke the news to her. Sheimmediately cried as expected but the interesting jump of the story iswhen she goes into her room and locks the door. While Mrs. Mallard isslouched in a precede her experience doesnt feel that tragic at all.The mood is rather self-possessed and relaxing. The reader is reminded moreof a sunny day than a down in the mouth sky. At this point it is almost confusingbut Kate Chopin... ...theprisoner is puke in handcuffs and taken back to his cell where he isreminded he will be for life. Imagine the mental strain that wouldcause the prisoner. I believe Mrs. Mallards situation to be verysimilar. This i s why after blow-by-blow review of the text I am convincedthat Louises reaction to see her husband was quench alive, wascomplete disappointment rather than joy. It was all her new hopesand dreams of a future of happiness destroyed due to the fact shewould still be a wife. Just as Josephine was wrong about what Louisewas personnel casualty through in the bedroom, the doctors were wrong by saying shedied of a joy that kills.(315)WORKS CITEDChopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. Literature and Society AnIntroduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Nonfiction. Eds. Pamela J.Annas and Robert C. Rosen. New island of Jersey Prentice Hall, 2000. 313-316.