Throughout history, women have been denied equal social rights as men and lacked significant individual freedom. Specifically, the Victorian Era (1837 to 1901), witnessed polarized gender roles between males and females. Men were depicted as the leaders of society; they had a voice, important roles, and possessed independence. Contrastingly, women were figuratively trapped at the bottom of the gender patriarchy and their identity and liberty ceased to exist upon marriage. Louise Mallard, the protagonist in The Story of an Hour, is shown to live with the deep suffrage of not only marriage, but a chronic heart condition. She becomes pessimistic about her life because of the way her husband imposed his dominance. Louise’s marriage is a bondage that she finally broke free from following her husband’s claimed death. In The Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin uses a combination of word choice, irony, and Louise Mallard’s change in character to illustrate the woman’s desire to be bold and independent.
Chopin establishes Louise’s new feelings and outlook on her life …show more content…
Although she dramatically cried upon hearing her husband’s death, it later leads to her personal awakening. Louise gets transferred to a glorious trance because the thought of having female liberty is so overwhelming. “She [Louise] did not stop to ask whether if it were or were not a monstrous joy that held her” (Chopin). This statement evidently expresses her major mental perception alteration; initially, Louise was bounded by the oppressions of being in a marriage, however she suddenly gains freedom because of her husband’s death. These events to present readers with the true inner thoughts of women, especially during that century (late 1800s). Chopin accurately demonstrates the woman’s desire for independence by describing the awakening Louise experiences despite her role as a female stereotype in
Chopin establishes Louise’s new feelings and outlook on her life …show more content…
Although she dramatically cried upon hearing her husband’s death, it later leads to her personal awakening. Louise gets transferred to a glorious trance because the thought of having female liberty is so overwhelming. “She [Louise] did not stop to ask whether if it were or were not a monstrous joy that held her” (Chopin). This statement evidently expresses her major mental perception alteration; initially, Louise was bounded by the oppressions of being in a marriage, however she suddenly gains freedom because of her husband’s death. These events to present readers with the true inner thoughts of women, especially during that century (late 1800s). Chopin accurately demonstrates the woman’s desire for independence by describing the awakening Louise experiences despite her role as a female stereotype in