Symbolism In Kate Chopin's 'Story Of An Hour'

Words: 1165
Pages: 5
Open Document
Brandon Colon
Mrs. Rufino
English 102
25 May 2016
Death’s Symbolism as Joy “The Story of an Hour” revolves, mostly, around Mrs. Mallard, who is used to develop many themes throughout the story. The story is mostly comprised of the themes of freedom and death. Other themes evidently seen are time, confinement, marriage and emotional regression. Normally, death brings sorrow, grief, seclusion, and guilt amongst other feelings. However, “Story of an Hour” proves that death can not only bring sorrow and grief, but can also bring joy in certain cases, and eventually independence. Kate Chopin uses death to symbolize joy and independence.
The story begins by introducing the main character’s struggle. Mrs. Mallard is said to have “heart trouble” (Chopin …show more content…
Body and soul free” (Chopin 14) escape her lips. Mrs. Mallard appears overjoyed time and time again. She is finally free from a life and marriage that was oppressive and belittling. After her husband passed away she was immediately free from obeying someone else’s rules, and she was free from a name that no longer belonged to her and no longer fully loved (Weinstock). She becomes her own boss for once in her life and is even referred to by her first name. By using her first name instead of her last name symbolizes her attempt to slowly get back her original identity with which she was forced to abandon when she got married. Her sense of freedom and independence slowly begins to settle in (Cunningham). “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life” (Chopin 14): this shows that even though Mrs. Mallard was greatly sorrowed by her husband’s death, the other part of her life still carried on. Her husband passed away, but all she could see from her window were the signs of “new life” (Chopin 13). Spring itself is usually a sign of rebirth. It was ironic that her husband would die during that time of year (Weinstock). Loiuse Mallard is described as, “[sitting] with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless, except when a sob in its dreams” (Chopin 14). In this context, Mrs. Mallard body appears to separate itself. Yet, her mind …show more content…
It tells the reader that she used to live the way her husband wanted to and not the way she wanted to. After the death, she will live by her own wishes, which is something she has ever experienced before. Mrs. Mallard is afraid of what will happen in her afterlife as “she breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long” (Chopin 14). This is another example of Chopin’s use of irony because the prayer is never answered (Weinstock). “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease - of joy that kills” (Chopin 15). Hearing the news of that her husband was still alive shocked her enormously. After experiencing such grief and sorrow, and also joy, her heart could not take anymore. However, the reader can conclude that other feelings may have killed her. Not only was she shocked from the news that her husband was still alive but she was also disappointed that her fantasy had been shattered: that all the freedom she thought she had was gone.
As illustrated throughout “Story of An Hour”, death has shown that it can be seen from different points of views with different meanings. (Weinstock). Although she experienced grief and sorrow because of her husband’s death, she was happier that she was going to be free of oppression. In fact, she
Show More

Related Documents: Symbolism In Kate Chopin's 'Story Of An Hour'

The Symbolism In Kate Chopin's The Story Of An Hour

in the right hands, can leave the audience with a better and more meaningful understanding of the themes behind a text as well as help to reveal a deeper characterization of the characters in a text. This can be seen in Kate Chopin’s aptly named short story, “The story of an hour”. In it, Chopin uses an overarching symbol of an open window to symbolize freedom as well as new opportunity while simultaneously using said symbol to expose the main character, Louise, and her deep desire for freedom and…

Words 976 - Pages 4

Symbolism as Found in Kate Chopin's Story of an Hour Essay

Symbolism as found in Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour” In Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour” the protagonist, Louise Mallard, is going through a life-changing event that is brought on by the news of the death of her husband, Brently Mallard. During this hour, she is told of her husband’s death, grieves for a short time, discovers that she will now be able to “live for herself” (16) and is finally able to free herself of the restrictive marriage she has been living in. The end of her last hour comes…

Words 1529 - Pages 7

Chopin's Stories Response

My Personal Response to Chopin’s Stories Surprisingly before this week I never heard of or read any of Chopin’s Stories so I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I believe her stories might have just been some basic stories without much depth to them however, that could not be further from the truth. As I read through them I started noticed her use of imagery to create this vivid image of the scenes in my mind and symbolism to add onto that and add this layer and subtle and not so subtle…

Words 524 - Pages 3

Story Of An Hour Rhetorical Analysis

One of the most excellent pieces of Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” is the fact that the author creates doubt, surprise, and disbelief in a tale that is astonishingly complex. “The Story of an Hour" explains how a woman, after her husband's sudden death, finds herself liberated, achieves independence, and begins to acquire self-determination - at least for the interlude of one hour, as the title declares. Viewed as a kind of an instant that ruins social contentment and gives formation to a woman's…

Words 1839 - Pages 8

Essay1 Compare And Contrast

freedom. In the “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin many people believed that she used her own personal life as inspiration for the story. Chopin’s husband died unexpectedly and she mourned the death of her husband but then felt invigorated by the freedom she had. The two stories create a case for how women were treated during the post civil war era, with each author giving their own opinion based on social and political views. Both locations for “The story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin and “A Rose…

Words 784 - Pages 4

Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” opens with Louise Mallard being informed that her husband, Brently, had died. Since Louise had heart problems, it was important to her sister, Josephine, to break the news to her with “great care”. After hearing the news, Louise began to sob and go up to her room to be alone. While crying and looking out her window, Louise realized that she was “free” and became happy and relaxed. She realized that without her husband by her side for the rest of her life, “she…

Words 648 - Pages 3

The Storm Symbolism

marriage continues to be a dominant theme in literature, and is regularly discussed alongside the literary use of symbolism. Through the use of symbolism, the treatment of marriage as a theme is exemplified in “The Storm” by Kate Chopin, “The Lady with the Dog” by Anton Chekhov, and “The Girls in Their Summer Dresses” by Irwin Shaw. In “The Storm,” Kate Chopin uses symbolism throughout the story to convey sexuality. For example, a literal storm is used to represent the sexual tension between Calixta and…

Words 1164 - Pages 5

The Necklace and Story of an Hour; a Comparison Essay

The Necklace and Story of An Hour; A Comparison Megan Ford ENG125 Instructor Reljic August 19, 2012 At first glance, Chopin’s Story of an Hour (1894) and de Maupassant’s The Necklace (1884), appear to have very little in common. Chopin’s story, as displayed in its title is quite short; while in comparison, de Maupassant tells a much more detailed account of the beleaguered Loisel’s, who must learn from the self-centred Madam Loisel. With de Maupassant’s…

Words 2788 - Pages 12

Kate Chopin Analytical Essay - the Story of an Hour

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a short yet complex story, describing Mrs Mallard’s feelings. It focuses on the unfolding emotional state of Mrs Mallard after the news of her husbands death, and has overflowing symbolism and imagery. It is an impressive literary piece that touches the readers’ feelings and mind and allows the reader to have a connection to Mrs Mallard’s emotional process. Although the story is short, it is complete with each word carrying deep sense and meaning. It is written…

Words 1941 - Pages 8