Talk:Story of an Hour

The Story of an Hour by: Kate Chopin. By: Johnny Gann

As I was reading it I could not help it, but I was pulled into Mrs Mallard’s thoughts. As I questioned where the writer was heading with this thought of a young woman with heart trouble, who loses her husband. At the same time, I noticed that every person there had their own name/identity except Mrs Mallard. Clearly Ms Chopin was pointing to the bonds of marriage making this distinction. I do not think that Mrs. Mallard felt trapped by her husband. I do on the other hand, think that it was a broader aspect of feeling trapped by society.

She was writing about the bonds of marriage. Society has followed this backwards norm that thinks a woman cannot have a face in it. Unless she has a man to represent her. It’s like Mr.and Mrs. Blah ,blah, blah. I honestly think that Ms. Chopin saw the term Mrs. In the plural sense (Mr’s). Because she mentions that “ there will be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence which MEN AND WOMEN believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature.” Contrary to popular belief, I believe that Mrs Mallard loved her Husband. In the end ironically that is what killed her. I also believe that she was taking a self assessment while she was in her room as she uttered the words “Free! Body and soul Free!” To me this means since she has lost the love of her life, her reason for holding on, And now she can finally rest because there is nothing else left to live for.

At the end of the story the doctors diagnosed the cause of her death as “heart disease– of the joy that kills.” This is merely stating that she had come to terms with the fact that her love was gone and all commitments to Him and God had been fulfilled. At that point her emotions were at ground level. Only to discover that the news of his death was false, filled her with so much “joy” that her heart couldn’t handle the excitement. This story also has a hidden message in it that represents women well. Basically it’s telling us that women are strong people. When it comes to life and the people they love. They will not let anything interfere or jeopardize the sanctity of that love.