The Story Of An Hour, Research Paper Examples

- Thesis: The short story, "The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin revolves on the thoughts of a widowed woman immediately after receiving news of her husband’s death. There are numerous phrases in the short story that makes an impression on the reader as they go through the text. The phrases act as hints on some important aspects that are revealed at the end of the story. The plot of the story and its characters take an interesting twist at the end of the story. The characters make the story interesting and their attributes are ironic making the plot ironic (Chopin 23). From the story, one sees that many issues prompted the writer to write this kind of story in the 19th century.
- Women were vulnerable as portrayed by the Louse through the author’s description of her heart trouble.
- The way her sister and her husband’s friend go about telling her about the death of her husband
- Her sister is worried about her when she locks herself in the bedroom
- Lack of love and hope for a better future.
- The description of the armchair and the comfort she derives from it.
- The distant music symbolizes a hope and view of a better future.
- Her desire for freedom is evident from her reaction to the news of the death of her husband.
- Lack of freedom
- Women did not have freedom and this is evident from the way she views life with no responsibilities whatsoever.
- Divorce issues
- During this era, women were not allowed to file for a divorce, which is evident in her desire to lead a free life, yet she never sought freedom through a divorce.
- Conclusion
Women in this era were in need of freedom and liberation, but never got it because they did not enjoy equal rights as men. It is also clear that the author used irony in her work to describe the situation and how easily one’s dreams can end.