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An Hour Freedom

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A moment of freedom "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin discusses about the conflicting feelings a woman have after finding out about her husband 's death. This feeling of happiness about her husband’s death goes against society 's expectations which contributes to the main character’s personality. The main character, Mrs. Mallard, goes through a sequence of events that guides her to become an autonomous woman. Even in such a short piece, Chopin describes Mrs. Mallard through series of imagery, underlying messages, and going against society that makes her a unique character that the reader can relate to. Mrs. Mallard, the main character in this short story, is described by the narrator as “afflicted with a heart trouble, great care …show more content…

She shouts “Louise, open the door! I beg; open the door – you will make yourself ill” (553). Not only is Josephine concerned about her sister’s condition but she also represents society who is trying to convince her to get rid of the idea of independence. Society is trying to detract her from her thoughts which goes against the norms during that time period. Mrs. Mallard responds by stating, “Go away . . . Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own” (553). She imagines what her future has to offer and is looking forward to living life without limitations. However, her daydreams gets a reality check when she and her sister walks down the stairs to find her husband, Brentley Mallard, at the front door. The reader would think that Mrs. Mallard would be happy about her husband’s appearance but what happens next is unexpected. Suddenly, her freedom and independence is immediately taken away which ultimately leads to her death. The reason for her death was “the doctor came they said she had died of heart disease – of joy that kills” (553). The shift of a heart condition from the beginning of the story to heart disease provides to the extent of her internal conditions. A heart condition indicates that there was a problem with her heart but heart disease shows that there were problems with her

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