Louise Mallard Character Analysis

Words: 498
Pages: 2

In Amy Tan’s story, Two Kinds, Jing-mei’s stereotyping was brought on by her mother. As a child, Jing-mei and her mother would watch Shirley Temple and read articles about remarkable children. Soon, her mother’s ambitions for Jing-mei took shape after watching a 9-year-old play the piano on The Ed Sullivan Show. Immediately, Jing-mei was enrolled in lessons. However, Jing-mei had no interest in learning how to play the piano much less becoming a piano prodigy. Just as Jing-mei was victim of stereotyping, Louise Mallard in Kate Chopin’s, The Story of an Hour, was subjected to the 18th century stereotyping. Being a woman in the 18th century meant being considered second class to men. The demands of being obedient to her husband caused her to long to be free. However, divorcing was unacceptable in the 18th century. Therefore, Louise Mallard was forced to stay in a hopeless marriage. Although, uniquely different, both characters felt the pain of stereotyping at the hands of others. Expectations set forth in both, Jing-mei and Mrs. Mallard shaped their lives. Jing-mei’s mother put expectation on her that were set so high …show more content…
Jing-mei’s mother wanted her to become famous and pushed her. Jing-mei’s mother believed there are two kinds of children, “Those who are obedient and those who follow their own minds”. However, she would only accept an obedient child. Fighting the control, Jing-mei discovered her own aggressive mind. The new found state of mind caused the destruction of the mother-daughter relationship. Unlike in, Two Kinds, the control is not clearly told in, The Story of an Hour. The story states, “She loves him – sometimes.” It was not until she learns of her husband’s death, that Louise Mallard looks forward to a life of being free. Free to become who she wants to be. She began to imagine a life of her