Internal Conflict And Identity In The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin

For different circumstances, some may feel the need to conceal what they truly feel inside. Some may do this to fit into the norms of society or as to not put a target on their backs. A great example of an internal conflict with identity is the protagonist in, "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, Louise. In the story which took place in the 1800s, Louise known for having heart trouble believes her husband has passed away and is relieved with her newly found freedom in secret. However, once she finds out that her husband is alive, Louise passes away from the shock of having her freedom stripped as fast as it was given to her. The image one shows the world may contradict what they feel internally, for reasons of acceptance, fear or love.
Louise's …show more content…
However, there is something that stands out about Josephine and she seems like the typical woman of the time. Josephine is on the outside looking in and she feels like she understands her sister, but she doesn't know what actually is going on. The internal conflict is something that only Louise knows of and people on the outside can only imagine. Louise's personal identity was not even understood by her own sister, which shows a lot about Louise's inner struggle. This is shown with the dialogue between the sisters when Josephine is begging for Louise to open the door and the story says, "Go away. I am not making myself ill."No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window" (203). This shows how Louise can be so disconnected with someone as close as her sister and what she can truly keep from showing to others. In an article by Jennifer Ouellette, "Personal Identity Is (Mostly) Performance."it stated that "Without external props, even our personal identity fades and goes out of focus. The self is a fragile construction of the mind". Louise at the same time was also protecting herself from standing out by showing some emotion, even if she could not back it up. The image one gives off to the world can be very deceiving to what a person actually feels. Louise does a great job of showing the level internal conflict and what she …show more content…
The story follows a group of soldiers during the Vietnam War and more specifically, Lieutenant Cross, who comes to a realization that he must choose to let go of his past life as a kid in love with Martha to lead his men during the war. The story talks about things many of the men carried, varying from weapons to personal belongings to also mental