“The Story of An Hour” is a work of American writer, Kate Chopin, who undoubtedly was a great master of short stories since she succeeded in showing character’s complex personality using only a few pages. This story is about a young woman, Mrs. Mallard, who suddenly knew about her husband’s death in a train accident. Firstly, she became upset and depressed but later through her feelings and thoughts it became apparent that she had no reasons to cry. With the death of Mr. Mallard, she could finally find freedom. The author opens another, a real part of Mrs. Mallard’s life that does not seem to be happy. Chopin systematically shows the truth about relationships between wife and husband in those days.
Firstly, it may be seen that Mrs. Mallard’s feelings and thoughts interpret her reaction on the death in a natural way. The author tells the reader about her weak health and makes it clear that she has not only physical but also mental weaknesses. However, later it becomes apparent that this situation is not that simple as it may seem. Chopin gives a certain explanation of Louise’s feelings: “She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms” (""The Story of an Hour""). After that, the reader sees a real reaction to the Mr. Mallard’s death that sincerely becomes joyful for Louise. The author explains such a weird reaction and further it appears that Louise’s marriage was not as happy as everyone thought. However, Louisa had some feelings toward her husband; she has never seriously loved him. Her life was extremely limited because of oppressive attitude toward her. She was truly unhappy living with Mr. Mallard.
Louise’s sister and Mr. Mallard’s brother truly worried about Louise, especially about her weak heart. They also kept worrying when she ran into her room because they thought Mrs. Mallard could do something bad to her. However, Louise did not even think about things like that. She was finally free: “"Free! Body and soul free!" she kept whispering” (""The Story of an Hour""). Chopin shortly but expertly shows the problems that appeared Mallard’s marriage. Moreover, it is a very widespread phenomenon in those times. Louise finally realized what she wanted and what made her unhappy. Her relationships with a husband were not fair and satisfactory for both sides because Mr. Mallard always determined what she must to do without paying attention to her will. Further, she finally left her room: “There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory” (""The Story of an Hour""). Her mind was clear, and she was truly certain that from that moment her life changed; she believed that now she could do everything she wanted. Nevertheless, all Louise’s expectations and desires tragically crashed when she knew that Mr. Mallard was alive.
Through the story, Chopin uses a powerful irony to show not agreeable aspects of marriage that others never mention most often. From the start to the end of the story, Mrs. Mallard passed an hour-long path of the rebirth that was caused by the death of her husband. She started to become more confident and stronger. She became happy. However, this path ended with her tragic death, and no one would ever know that she died not because of the glad news but because of incredibly strong disappointment. Disappointment that in any case means a death to her.
Works Cited
""The Story of an Hour"." Virginia Commonwealth University. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.
