The Awakening And Story Of An Hour Essay

Stylistically, author’s tend to keep discernable similarities embedded within their works of writing and this does not exclude the nature of characters. Both Edna Pontellier and Louise Mallard shared substantially similar views on their lives as wives. Throughout both stories of each of the two women, Chopin displayed an ever present concept of women feeling confined in marriage rings which acted as handcuffs to societal expectations. First and foremost, Chopin had chosen to end both of her works of literature in the same exact manner. In the final paragraph of The Awakening, Chopin stated, “She looked into the distance, and the old terror flamed up for an instant, then sank again,” (Chopin, The Awakening 121). While in “The Story of an Hour” Chopin analogously wrote, …show more content…
Both of the characters which Chopin had conceived met their demise. The rationale behind the deaths of Edna and Mrs. Mallard were parallel to one another. In the final moments of Mrs. Mallard’s life Kate Chopin outlined the events by writing, “He had been far from the scene of the accident,” (The Story of an Hour 3). Mrs. Mallard had not died of feeling extreme joy, rather extreme distress. This can be supported by Mrs. Mallard, previous to her husband’s death, repeating, “under her breath: ‘free, free, free!’” (The Story of an Hour 2). Mrs. Mallard was ecstatic to be rid of her husband. Once she learned of his survival, she withered away at the mere prospect of returning to her previous role as a wife to Mr. Mallard. She could not fathom the possibility of returning to a marriage that was nothing other than a hindrance upon her freedom. Chopin’s reasoning behind Edna’s death had been Edna’s realization that, “There was no human being whom she wanted near her except Robert,” (The Awakening 120). Edna was appalled at the thought of returning to the arms of her husband. Instead of retreating back to the life she once knew, Edna decided