After reading “The Story of an Hour”, “Desiree’s Baby” and “A Pair of Silk Stockings” by Kate Chopin, I believe the woman who achieved the most autonomy was Mrs. Sommers. Autonomy is defined as a self-governing community free from an external control or influence (Dictionary.com). In regards to the autonomy of an individual, autonomy is independence or freedom, as of the will or one 's actions (Dictionary.com). In these stories, I believe Choin allowed only one woman to experience true autonomy and that was Mrs. Sommers. Mrs. Sommers was the only woman who actually got to spend time thinking of herself and spending money on whatever she wanted.
In the first story “The Story of an Hour”, when Mrs. Mallard heard news of her husband’s death she cried which showed that she was devastated by the tragedy. The issue of her husband dying no longer became an issue when she changed her perspective. She began to feel empowered by the thought of her husband’s death stating “There would be no one to live for
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She solely lived her life listening to everyone else around her and did not think for herself and her benefit. She only lived to please her husband who had the “spirit of Satan” and care for her baby. Desiree’s didn 't even have the courage to stand up to her husband and tell him that was not black. Desiree only left the control of her husband because he told her to leave. Even when her husband clearly didn’t love her anymore, she still wished for him to change his mind so she could stay. She didn’t even know what to do when she wasn’t under his control. Although Desiree didn 't have autonomy when it came to her husband, she did choose not to go home after leaving. She went down her own path after living her entire life being controlled by the people around her. In a sense, Desiree did achieve autonomy after leaving but only after leaving her husband she was truly
Finally characterization comes into place in both stories. In “The Story of an Hour” Mrs.Mallard has a rare reaction to finding out her husband is dead. Mrs.Mallard is happy that her husband is gone so she can be independent. Her reaction is probably not one that most people would have if there husband died. “Free,free,free!”
This meant that she had no desire to live. Many believe that she is just prolonging her agony by living, and therefore came to the conclusion that her actions were justified, and that killing herself and her baby was a valid option that makes sense. In this time period, nobody who was white wished to marry a mixed woman, or even to be around a mixed woman. Therefore, Desiree would be an outcast. Many believe that this could easily be solved if she just, perhaps, moved to the North and met new people, or reunited with Armand.
At the beginning of the story the narrator says that “Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble,” so the woman’s friends were very careful about telling her the news. But instead of dying of depression, she died of happiness. Unlike the last story, the mood of “The Story of an Hour” is lighter and more positive relative to “The Interlopers.” Although there are two deaths in the story, it is mainly triumphant as the woman has finally been freed from the grasp of her husband, as she didn’t like
In the 19th century, a group of people launched the suffrage movement, and they cared about women’s political rights, their property and their body liberty. Born in that age, Kate Chopin was aware of the importance of setting an example for those who were taken in by the reality and poor women to be an inspiration. So we call her a forerunner of the feminist author for every effort she put in advocating women’s sexuality, their self-identity and women’s own strength. When people were ashamed of talking about sexuality, Kate Chopin stood out and call for women’s sexual autonomy.
Literary Analysis “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin introduces us to Mrs. Mallard as she reacts to the sudden death of her husband. Chopin describes Mrs. Mallard’s emotions as sad, yet happy that her husband has been killed. Kate Chopin’s “ The Story of an Hour” argues that when a person is controlled and made to live under another person their mental state of mind is affected. The story also argues that when that person is freed from the controlling person their true self can finally be achieved. Kate Chopin portrays these themes by the use of character development; plot control, and irony throughout the story.
The reader soon discovers, this feeling that comes to Mrs. Mallard is joy and relief, she feels this because she can now finally be her own person. Mrs. Mallard comes to the realization that her husband had been oppressing her for years, “There would be no powerful will bending..”, and she was finally free of that. Before the passing of her husband, Mrs. Mallard was scared of living a long life because of the treatment she received from him. After his passing she had a much different outlook, “There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself.” This shows that Mrs. Mallard was excited to now live her own life without being told what she was to do.
In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” demonstrates the personal growth of the dynamic protagonist Louise Mallard, after hearing news of her husband’s death. The third-person narrator telling the story uses deep insight into Mrs. Mallard’s thoughts and emotions as she sorts through her feelings after her sister informs her of her husband’s death. During a Character analysis of Louise Mallard, a reader will understand that the delicate Mrs. Mallard transforms her grief into excitement over her newly discovered freedom that leads to her death. As Mrs. Mallard sorts through her grief she realizes the importance of this freedom and the strength that she will be able to do it alone.
In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” readers are dropped into a deep conflict. A man must tell a woman that her husband is dead. In the beginning there is a subtle hint at the ironic twist ending, but the story goes on cooly in spite of it. Readers start to feel connected to Mrs. Mallard and begins to pity her situation, all because of irony. The effect of irony in Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” enhances the protagonist’s situation, it introduces the effect of the foreshadowing, and indirectly characterizes the protagonist.
Kate Chopin wrote a story about Mrs. Mallard, a married woman who suffers from heart problems and also has to cope with her husband recent passing. Mrs.Mallard, she showed sincere grief about her husband passing. However, looking back at how controlling her husband Mr.Mallard were in their marriage, Mrs.Mallard felt a sudden joy when processing her husband death After her sudden emotional change, Mrs Mallard felt liberated when she started thinking about what her life would be like without Mr.Mallard, but regardless of the happiness she feels, she knows that once she sees her husband in corpse that sadness will return. Through her writing, author Chopin readers/ audience would be women who feel trapped and controlled in their marriage. Anger, loneliness and heartbroken are feelings that women who're coping with the death of their loved one feel.
First of all, imagery is used in “The Story of an Hour” to help the reader understand Mrs. Mallard as a character. A long list of the deaths from the crash were delivered to the newspaper office. Leading the list off, right up top, was “Brently Mallard.” Right away, Kate Chopin tells the reader that Mrs. Mallard is afflicted with heart disease. Brently Mallard’s friend, Richards, comes to break the news to Mrs. Mallard.
If the last line of “The Story of an Hour” is taken in the literal sense, it can be perceived that Mrs. Mallard was not oppressed and was ecstatic that her husband was alive, ultimately being killed by the excitement. Although the latter it is a logical presumption, the thoughts and actions of Louise Mallard reinforce the argument that the true meaning behind this story is one of marital oppression. She blatantly stated that she welcomes the upcoming years free from her husband with open arms. Louise Mallard’s internal dialogue following her husband’s death suggests oppression and her reaction to her husband’s death was hardly one of a distraught wife. It is true that the blame doesn’t
In Story of an Hour, the whole central point of this short story is to discuss Mrs. Mallard 's heart condition. After reading the story the first time, it came about that this heart condition means a lot more than you think. Mrs. Mallard 's heart condition symbolizes the troubles that she encounters having a husband. For example, if Mrs. Mallard didn’t have this heart condition, she would still possess emotional heart trouble in her relationship.
The Contrast of The Story of an Hour While Mrs. Mallard is just starting a new life, so to say, for herself, her life she has known comes to an end. She is just able to become “free, free, free!” (57) when she loses her life. Kate Chopin uses contrast with the news Richard’s gave, the way Mrs. Mallard felt in the room and the doctor’s news to show how women perceived marriage in the 19th century in her story The Story of an Hour.
During the 1890’s until today, the roles of women and their rights have severely changed. They have been inferior, submissive, and trapped by their marriage. Women have slowly evolved into individuals that have rights and can represent “feminine individuality”. The fact that they be intended to be house-caring women has changed.
Kate Chopin’s life is pretty much messed up. Her father died in a tragic railroad accident when she was still a child. Then, her grandmother also died a few years later. She also grew up in St. Louis, Missouri during the time of Confederate war. She later on married a guy named Oscar in 1870 and they later on settled in New Orleans.