Story Of An Hour Conformity

The 1890s existed as a time of oppression towards women. For this reason, women were believed to be fragile, dependent creatures by men. Therefore, women were strictly confined to being housewives. Furthermore, Kate Chopin, an 1890s author, wrote many stories based off of the following themes: women’s revolt against conformity and self-discovery. For instance, “The Story of an Hour” also depicts these themes. Louise Mallard, who suffers from a weak heart, appears to live a psychologically languorous and insipid life until she is informed of her husband’s apparent death. This news is confirmed by husband’s friend, Richard, who says that Brently Mallard died in a railroad accident. Mindful of her sister’s heart condition, Josephine breaks the news …show more content…
Mallard’s armchair symbolizes her new, profound freedom from her oppressive marriage. Experiencing a loved one’s death, one usually expects a person in grief to weep in agony and pain. However, when Louise is informed of her beloved husband’s death, she exiles herself to her room and sits calmly in the armchair. As put by Chopin: “There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair” (86). Describing the chair as “roomy” suggests that Mrs. Mallard now has space to move around in her life as a result of her husband’s apparent death. Therefore, she is no longer constricted by her husband, which was a common issue in the 1890s. Also, the location of the armchair plays an imperative role in “The Story of an Hour.” The chair is located in her room where she has the ability to reflect on what she chooses. “Just as she locks herself in her room and locks out her social world, she also locks out social conventions” (Jamil). Her bedroom is her solace from her social expectations, and her room is where she finds her revelations. Furthermore, since the armchair is located within her private quarters, Chopin describes the armchair as “comfortable,” which validates that Mrs. Mallard feels content within her