For instance, Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” indicates the …show more content…
To achieve this mood, Atwood provides denotation and connotation. For example, in stanza five where the woman describes the actions of her heart, she says “It forces me to listen.” To force someone into doing something means that it is being done against his or her will. In other words, the woman is unable to be her own self and must follow the directions that she is being told. The feeling of distress emits from this piece of text and draws attention to the importance of the woman not being able to be freely independent, exaggerating the emotions felt by her. The dramatization repeats throughout the story and it can be seen on stanza seven where it states “Long ago I gave up singing to it / it will never be satisfied or lulled.” The use of denotation for the words “gave up” and “never” help contribute to this cheerless mood, as well as the inclusion of “long ago” which gives the connotation of a desolate past. The quote creates the stress of being helpless to go against the control of the heart as well as the alarming hopelessness of ever becoming free. By giving up her independence to the heart, she allows it to take free rein over her mind and body despite her