Review of Literary Work: “The story of an hour” by Chopin

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Review of Literary Work: “The story of an hour” by Chopin

The short story, “The story of an hour” (1894), is by Kate Chopin. The story covers the emotions that Louise undergoes after receiving the news that her husband is dead. The story takes an interesting turn when as opposed to grieving, Louise rather feels some sense of relief since she is now to be free from the “bondage” of marriage (Harrington 12). Louise finally realizes that her husband is alive, making her die of shock (Bishop 13). This paper aims at critically examining the various literary aspects of the story from the cultural perspective.

The setting of the story is unclear. Chopin fails to offer sufficient clues regarding when or where the story’s actions happen apart from Mallard’s house in Louisiana. This general setting backs up the theme of cultural or society accepted perspective of the approved responsibilities for women in community/society (Harrington 9).

The plot of the story begins by highlighting that as a result of her heart problem, Louise Mallard has to carefully be informed about the death of her husband. When Josephine hears the news of the demise of Mr. Mallard from Richards, Louise cries herself out and seeks solitary (Bishop 19). While alone, she looks terrified of the awareness that is coming to her and eventually realizes that it is her freedom (Sustana 1). While Louise and Brently loved each another, and she is truly saddened by Brently’s death, she has a feeling that she is liberated from her marriage owes (Harrington 17). Eventually, Brently surprisingly enters the house. When Louise sees Brently, she gets a deadly shock and dies. There are four main characters in the story. First is Louise Mallard, then woman whose husband is reportedly killed in a disastrous railroad accident. Second is Brently Mallard, Louise’s husband. Third is Josephine, Louise’s sister. Last is Richards, Brently’s friend.

There are two main themes depicted in the story. First is the prohibited joy of freedom/independence. In the story, independence is a prohibited pleasure that can only be imagined of privately. When Louise hears of Brently’s demise, she reacts with apparent grief as culturally expected. Nonetheless, when alone, Louise starts realizing that she is an autonomous woman, an awareness that excites and enlivens her (Bloom 13). Notwithstanding the fact that these are her private opinions, she tries to quench the excitement that she feels at first. Such resistance exposes the extent to which this pleasure is detested by culture. The life of Louise provides no refuge for this excitement, and the society as a whole will not accept or understand it. The forbidden excitement quickly disappears, yet its taste is sufficient to kill her.

The second theme is the intrinsic oppressiveness of marriages. Chopin suggests that even the kindest of marriages are intrinsically oppressive. Louise, who reveals that her husband was loving and kind to her, feels relieved and joyous when she believes that Brently is reported to be dead (Sustana 1).  Her reactions do not suggest any kind or element of malice, and Louise knows that she will mourn at Brently’s funeral. Nonetheless, notwithstanding the love between wife and husband, Louise perceives Brently’s demise as a release from domination and oppression (Bishop 21). She does not specifically name any way Brently oppressed her, generally hinting that marriage stifles both women and men. Her epiphany reveals the intrinsic oppressiveness of marriages, which naturally robs people their autonomy.

The tone of the story, therefore, is bittersweet, yet uplifting. The story depicts a woman reacting to the demise of her husband. Her friends and relatives handle her as a very fragile person that would die at the news of the death of her husband. Nonetheless, in her private sphere, she is excited at the opportunity to live autonomously (Bloom 23). The realization that her husband is not really dead causes her death. The description employed by Chopin contrasts with the alleged mood of the story. Death is often marked by bleak, dark images. Nonetheless, these are not the images Chopin employs. Similarly, another tone of story is ironic: the manner in which Louise is treated by her friends and that she dies out of joy when her husband comes back home. The last tone of the story is dramatic. The moment during which Louise locks herself in the room alone is dramatically described.

Symbolism is seen in the story’s plot. Spring is employed to symbolize a new start, which depicts life and that is exactly what Louise gains. It equally connotes that spring comes after winter. The heart problem that is afflicting Louise is used both with a symbolic and physical depiction of malady, representing Louise’s ambivalence towards her unhappiness and marriage with her lack of liberty. At death, the diagnosis of a “heart problem” appears correct since the shock of seeing Brently is surely sufficient to kill her. However, the doctor’s inference that she died because of overwhelming joy is ironic since it is the lack of joy that actually had killed her. Louise, indeed, seems to be dead because of a broken heart that was caused by the unexpected loss of her much-cherished autonomy.

Last is the open window. The open window represents the opportunities and freedom that await her after the death of her husband. The open window, according to Bloom (14), provides her with a vivid and bright view into the distant future that is currently unhindered by the demands of her husband. When she turns away from the view and window, she quickly losses her autonomy also.

Apart from irony, Chopin also uses various literary figures. First is metaphor: “The delicious breath of rain was in the air (paragraph 5).” Second is oxymoron: “She did not stop to ask if it were or were not a monstrous joy that held her (paragraph 12).” Third is paradox: “It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing (paragraph 2). Other literary figures used include personification and simile.