Women's Rights In The Storm, By Kate Chopin

During the late Nineteenth century, the United States of America was a war torn nation recently healing from the effects of a civil war. The northern states battled the southern states in what seemed as a never ending bloodshed over the rights and liberties of enslaved African Americans. In the end, blacks were liberated from backbreaking slavery and were granted freedom as citizens of the United States of America, and through the 15th amendment were also given the right to vote. But despite the outcome of the American Civil War, there was one group however, who was still being denied the most basic of freedoms like the right to vote given by the American Constitution. This group was not being discriminated due to the color of their skin, …show more content…
Through stories like “The Story of an Hour”, “The Storm”, and “Desiree’s Baby”, Kate Chopin demonstrated characteristics of a writer ahead of her time by bringing to light a different perspective on a variety of women’s issues. Going against what was considered normal and acceptable for women during her time, Chopin freely wrote on topics including women and their roles in marriage, sexuality, as well as other topics that where affecting her generation like racism and sexism. Through the analysis of these stories, the reader can start seeing what set Chopin apart from the rest of her female contemporaries as a modern writer ahead of her …show more content…
Louise Mallard, who upon hearing the news of her husband’s sudden passing displays a behavior that is uncharacteristically jolly and cheerful. Not being able to fully comprehend those feelings, she tries pushing them back as they both frighten and excite her, until she reaches her boiling point and exclaims “Free! Body and soul free!” The reader can perhaps interpret this as someone who has lost their mind due to the nature of receiving such traumatic news, or as someone who was under the ruling thumb of an oppressive husband and is now free, but Kate Chopin’s intentions thorough Mrs. Mallard exclamations were not meant to dishonor her husband. In one passage, Chopin writes about the husband, “She knew she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death, the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead.” According to the passage, Mr. Mallard was an honorable man who clearly showed his love and affection for his wife. But the question remains as to why Mrs. Mallard was experiencing joy and freedom as opposed to utter despair and crippling depression in the story. The answer comes from Kate Chopin’s views on marriage and her interpretation as to what a woman’s role should be outside the institution of marriage. During Chopin’s time, women were not allowed to venture far from home, pursue professional careers, or entertain ideas that promoted independence away from