he Cost of Freedom
An individual’s hopes and aspirations for the future can be altered instantaneously. In “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, this chilling reality is blatantly clear as a loss of freedom through the institution of marriage is the theme seamlessly woven within her story. Marriage, as suggested by the author, results in misery and repression. She believed the individuals uniting in marriage, no matter how genuine and earnest their intentions may be, will ultimately feel constrained. Through the use of setting, narrator, and characters, Chopin not only expounded upon such marital and societal restrictions, but specifically described their influence on the protagonist Louise Mallard. All within one hour, she receives news that …show more content…
Mrs. Mallard, however, is an exception to these emotional and social norms. The narrator remarks of Louise, “She did not hear the story [of her husband’s death due to a railroad accident] as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance.” (Chopin 150) Rather, after a brief sob in her sister Josephine’s arms, she simply escaped up to her room in solitude. There, setting is the first notable literary element crafted by Chopin in order to further develop her theme. Inside her room, Mrs. Mallard settled herself in an armchair positioned towards an open window. Facing towards the west, the window signifies freedom and its ability to be attained by Louise. Her eyes are immediately drawn to the “…new spring life” (150) in abundance in the square just beyond her house. This implies newness of life both for nature and for Mrs. …show more content…
In this story, the narrator is third person limited omniscient. The narrator, then, is not a character in the story, but rather an individual relaying the events from a bird’s eye view. Through the use of this viewpoint, Chopin provides her readers with a broader grasp on the situation at hand than would be possible from a first-person perspective. This narrator is omniscient solely in the life of Louise, which assists in a proper understanding of her feelings and actions prior to and following her husband’s death. Additionally, because the narrator is removed from the situation, Mrs. Mallard felt the freedom to act and speak in an unfiltered manner when inside of her room. Once in solitude, raw emotions which had been buried deep within herself were finally brought to light. The narrator says of Louise, “’Free! Body and soul free!’, she kept whispering.” (151) Had the narrator or even Josephine been present during this time, Louise most likely would not have felt the liberty to react so genuinely. In conclusion, “The Story of an Hour” portrays marriage as unrelentingly constraining and provides a glimpse into the weighty impact this relationship can have on an individual such as Louise. Through the use of setting, characters, and point of view, Chopin provides an edgy view challenging the traditional feelings about marriage. Ultimately, Louise cared for her husband but not enough
An individual’s hopes and aspirations for the future can be altered instantaneously. In “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, this chilling reality is blatantly clear as a loss of freedom through the institution of marriage is the theme seamlessly woven within her story. Marriage, as suggested by the author, results in misery and repression. She believed the individuals uniting in marriage, no matter how genuine and earnest their intentions may be, will ultimately feel constrained. Through the use of setting, narrator, and characters, Chopin not only expounded upon such marital and societal restrictions, but specifically described their influence on the protagonist Louise Mallard. All within one hour, she receives news that …show more content…
Mrs. Mallard, however, is an exception to these emotional and social norms. The narrator remarks of Louise, “She did not hear the story [of her husband’s death due to a railroad accident] as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance.” (Chopin 150) Rather, after a brief sob in her sister Josephine’s arms, she simply escaped up to her room in solitude. There, setting is the first notable literary element crafted by Chopin in order to further develop her theme. Inside her room, Mrs. Mallard settled herself in an armchair positioned towards an open window. Facing towards the west, the window signifies freedom and its ability to be attained by Louise. Her eyes are immediately drawn to the “…new spring life” (150) in abundance in the square just beyond her house. This implies newness of life both for nature and for Mrs. …show more content…
In this story, the narrator is third person limited omniscient. The narrator, then, is not a character in the story, but rather an individual relaying the events from a bird’s eye view. Through the use of this viewpoint, Chopin provides her readers with a broader grasp on the situation at hand than would be possible from a first-person perspective. This narrator is omniscient solely in the life of Louise, which assists in a proper understanding of her feelings and actions prior to and following her husband’s death. Additionally, because the narrator is removed from the situation, Mrs. Mallard felt the freedom to act and speak in an unfiltered manner when inside of her room. Once in solitude, raw emotions which had been buried deep within herself were finally brought to light. The narrator says of Louise, “’Free! Body and soul free!’, she kept whispering.” (151) Had the narrator or even Josephine been present during this time, Louise most likely would not have felt the liberty to react so genuinely. In conclusion, “The Story of an Hour” portrays marriage as unrelentingly constraining and provides a glimpse into the weighty impact this relationship can have on an individual such as Louise. Through the use of setting, characters, and point of view, Chopin provides an edgy view challenging the traditional feelings about marriage. Ultimately, Louise cared for her husband but not enough