Personal Evaluation: "The Story of an Hour," by Kate Chopin

A detailed Summary of Personal Evaluation: "The Story of an Hour," by Kate Chopin

"The Story of an Hour" is a story about Louise Mallard, a woman with "heart trouble"

who learns her husband has died in a train wreck. Mrs. Mallard is at first overcome with sadness

until she realizes in a rush of emotion and relief that she is "Free! Body and soul free!" She sees

the world with a fresh outlook and is ready to be her own person. The story ends abruptly when

her husband, Brently Mallard comes home. He apparently wasn't on the train after all. Mrs.

Mallard dies from heart failure on the spot. Chopin's story is brilliant. The story takes a couple

of twists and turns that make the ending ironic and exciting. Also amazing is that Mrs. Mallard

undergoes all these emotions within an hour.

Chopin relates the social oppression of women at the time in a powerful way. Mrs.

nonetheless, he did. Chopin writes, "A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no

her death. The doctors assume that she died from the joy of seeing her husband alive, calling it

ill. Chopin writes, "No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window."

Mrs. Mallard could see the tops of trees "all aquiver with the new spring life" in the open

The language of the story does an excellent job of conveying the emotions and feelings of

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resents women who were locked in marriages that were loving yet oppressive in their

calls her by her first name. Mrs. Mallard's identity (and first name) are gained through Mr.

consoling would the armchair have been if she was crushed from the news of her husband's

Mallard sinks into a comfortable, roomy armch

Approximate Word count = 585
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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