After researching academic data basis for Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour,” it was determined this short story has been critically analyzed by several writers over the years. Of these scholarly articles, many writers approach Chopin’s work from various angles from sexual to Chopin incorporating her own life’s view into the main character Louise Mallard. This essay will demonstrate how each writer analyzes Chopin’s work, and present their intellectual meaning.
In an article written by Jennifer Hicks about this well know work, Hicks notes how many of Chopin’s works were “[R]ejected for publication on moral grounds, for editors perceived in them an unseemly interest in female self-assertion and sexual liberation.” Chopin wrote …show more content…
Lawrence Berkove notes in his article “Fatal Self-Assertion in Kate Chopin’s ‘The Story of an Hour,’” that “Chopin intended for the views of the story’s main character to coincide with those of the author.” This short story is a notable example, as it takes place as already noted above during a time when women usually stayed home and lived a rather dull life. Selina Jamil further characterizes Berkove’s opinion as she states, “Mrs. Mallard’s emotions have been stifled and suppressed to fit into the mold of hollow social conventions.” Excitement and the feeling of unconditional love were sought during these times, something Louise was not getting from her husband; she lacked the security, compassion, and the feeling of love that women ached to receive. However, in less than an hour’s time of the story, Louise felt that she would be released from this void, and obtain a life that would give her the joy and stimulation she needed; yet, it could also be the reason it causes her death according to Mark Cunningham. Cunningham the author of “The Autonomous Female Self And The Death Of Louise Mallard,” gives his own depiction of what caused Louise death. It was not from the shock of seeing him [Brently] enter through the front door after he was reportedly killed in a train accident, but rather she died from the aftereffects that she experienced from an adrenaline rush. This theory is noteworthy and feasible, yet, reasoning of this concept should be examined. Since there were no children mentioned in the story, this gives Louise no reason to live, except to live for herself, thus this gives Cunningham’s concept of dying from the after effects of an adrenaline rush seem feasible. We know that Louise was sad yet she had a feeling of happiness which increased her heart rate and caused her inner emotions to expand uncontrollably. Cunningham
In an article written by Jennifer Hicks about this well know work, Hicks notes how many of Chopin’s works were “[R]ejected for publication on moral grounds, for editors perceived in them an unseemly interest in female self-assertion and sexual liberation.” Chopin wrote …show more content…
Lawrence Berkove notes in his article “Fatal Self-Assertion in Kate Chopin’s ‘The Story of an Hour,’” that “Chopin intended for the views of the story’s main character to coincide with those of the author.” This short story is a notable example, as it takes place as already noted above during a time when women usually stayed home and lived a rather dull life. Selina Jamil further characterizes Berkove’s opinion as she states, “Mrs. Mallard’s emotions have been stifled and suppressed to fit into the mold of hollow social conventions.” Excitement and the feeling of unconditional love were sought during these times, something Louise was not getting from her husband; she lacked the security, compassion, and the feeling of love that women ached to receive. However, in less than an hour’s time of the story, Louise felt that she would be released from this void, and obtain a life that would give her the joy and stimulation she needed; yet, it could also be the reason it causes her death according to Mark Cunningham. Cunningham the author of “The Autonomous Female Self And The Death Of Louise Mallard,” gives his own depiction of what caused Louise death. It was not from the shock of seeing him [Brently] enter through the front door after he was reportedly killed in a train accident, but rather she died from the aftereffects that she experienced from an adrenaline rush. This theory is noteworthy and feasible, yet, reasoning of this concept should be examined. Since there were no children mentioned in the story, this gives Louise no reason to live, except to live for herself, thus this gives Cunningham’s concept of dying from the after effects of an adrenaline rush seem feasible. We know that Louise was sad yet she had a feeling of happiness which increased her heart rate and caused her inner emotions to expand uncontrollably. Cunningham