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Internal Conflict With Identity In The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin

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Throughout many time periods in history it has been difficult for some to display what they truly feel inside. Some may do this to fit into the norms of society or as to not put a target on their backs. The image one shows the world may contradict what they feel internally but that is because they feel society would never understand what they truly are.
A great example of an internal conflict with identity is the protagonist in, “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, Louise. In the story which took place in the 1800s, Louise, known for having heart trouble, believes her husband has passed away and is relieved with her newly found freedom in secret. However, once she finds out that her husband is alive, Louise passes away from the shock of having her freedom stripped as fast as it was given to her.
Louise’s feeling of being trapped within herself was a thought that had been in her head for a while. This was apparent by the quote where Chopin says, “She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength” (202). The story was set in a time where women’s rights in marriage were very limited. “Women seldom had a college education or paid jobs, so they found it hard to be independent. Most unhappily married women remained with their husband anyway because they could not survive alone financially” (Senker). The institution of marriage in the 1800s still held women to be a housewife and loyal servant to their husbands. Louise was trapped

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