Kate Chopin: The Story of an Hour
Society's view of women was very different a century ago. Women, in the late nineteenth century, are seen as fragile and dependant upon their husbands for survival. In "The Story of an Hour," Kate Chopin uses imagery and characterization to show a woman's liberation through the death of her husband. Contrary to society's beliefs at the turn of the century, Chopin shows women are capable of expressing strength and independence. Chopin uses imagery and strength of character to follow one woman's efforts to escape the role society has mandated she accept. Society's views, however, are deeply rooted and not easily swayed. Chopin initially describes her protagonist, Louise, as "afflicted with a heart trouble" (Chopin, 170), giving her an immediate appearance of weakness, symbolic of how women of the late nineteenth-century were viewed: weak and frail. This characterization is strengthened as Louise's sister informs her of her husband's death in "...veiled hints that reveled in half concealing" (Chopin, 170). Society does not seem capable of accepting a woman being able to deal with such harsh realities as the death of a husband.
Chopin has Louise reenter society as a woman, totally changed. Her eyes are filled with a "...feverish triumph..." (Chopin, 172), and she descends the stairs, as if returning from heaven anew, "...like a goddess of Victory" (Chopin, 172). Society, too nearsighted to see the change in Louise, reverts to its stereotype to explain her sudden death at the unexpected appearance of her husband "... [saying] she had died of heart disease - of joy that kills" (Chopin, 173). Society holds tightly to its stereotypes, unwilling to easily accept change. Louise was able to experience an hour of liberation before gaining ultimate freedom through death. In "The Story of an Hour," Chopin's portrayal of a woman's struggle for independence provides insight into the great effort women have faced to gain liberation. Even today, a century later, women still struggle to overcome the many constraints society has placed upon them. Although less insidious, many of these limitations still exist. Women continue to challenge society, creating a better life for each generation to come. The desire for liberation is universal; although, not everyone has the strength to re
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Approximate Word count = 776
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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