Freedom and Independence in “The Story of An Hour” In her short story “The Story of An Hour,” Kate Chopin shines a light on early feminism. Her 1894 story illustrates a woman who was restricted and had hardship due to her marriage. After being faced with a tragic death, the woman becomes enlightened and begins to feel freedom. Kate Chopin uses “The Story of an Hour” to display a woman’s response to an unhappy, oppressive marriage and the chance of freedom and independence.
Louise Millard has heart trouble. Her husband, Brently Millard, was killed in a railroad disaster, and Louise must be informed of this very easy. Her sister, Josephine, and her husband’s friend, Richards, told her about her husband’s death. Once Louise is told about her husband’s death, she goes upstairs to her room, alone. She sits down and looks out an open window and sees trees, smells rain in the air, a peddler, and hears someone singing as well as sounds of sparrows. She also seen “patches of blue sky” and clouds. Louise sat in her chair by the window, quite motionless, until a sob came up and shook her like a child who cries itself to sleep. After a while, she begins to repeat the word “free.” Louise knows that she will cry when she sees her husband’s corpse. She then knew that in the years to come, she would live for herself without anyone …show more content…
As Louise sits in the chair and looks out the open window, she realizes all the opportunities she has now that her husband is dead. She “sees tops of trees, the delicious breath of rain in the air, a peddler crying his wares, she heard a song, and countless sparrows twittering in the eaves.” Everything that Louise experiences is joyous and chances of opportunities. She found joy in watching the world around her, whether it be nature, human beings, or animals. She has been so oppressed by her marriage that she could not even look outside and enjoy
Louise Millard has heart trouble. Her husband, Brently Millard, was killed in a railroad disaster, and Louise must be informed of this very easy. Her sister, Josephine, and her husband’s friend, Richards, told her about her husband’s death. Once Louise is told about her husband’s death, she goes upstairs to her room, alone. She sits down and looks out an open window and sees trees, smells rain in the air, a peddler, and hears someone singing as well as sounds of sparrows. She also seen “patches of blue sky” and clouds. Louise sat in her chair by the window, quite motionless, until a sob came up and shook her like a child who cries itself to sleep. After a while, she begins to repeat the word “free.” Louise knows that she will cry when she sees her husband’s corpse. She then knew that in the years to come, she would live for herself without anyone …show more content…
As Louise sits in the chair and looks out the open window, she realizes all the opportunities she has now that her husband is dead. She “sees tops of trees, the delicious breath of rain in the air, a peddler crying his wares, she heard a song, and countless sparrows twittering in the eaves.” Everything that Louise experiences is joyous and chances of opportunities. She found joy in watching the world around her, whether it be nature, human beings, or animals. She has been so oppressed by her marriage that she could not even look outside and enjoy