Prison of Marriage (Kate Chopin)
Kate Chopin's short story, "The Story of an Hour," effectively illustrates how women in the 19th century felt trapped within the confines of traditional marriage. The story's protagonist is Louise Mallard, a young, married woman suffering from "heart trouble." Chopin begins with a bang, informing the reader of the tragic demise of Mrs. Mallard's husband, Brently. Immediately after hearing the shocking news, Mrs. Mallard begins to cry and escapes to her room. She does not allow others to follow. In her solitude, she is acutely aware of her surroundings. For this brief moment, we see through her eyes, feel her chest heaving with emotion, and we share in the grief she must surely be feeling for her newly deceased husband. However, Mrs. Mallard's sadness is transformed into a sense of freedom, a feeling that seems to overwhelm her at first. She welcomes this new feeling with joy. No more will she live in her husband's shadow, living her life for
him. She remembers Mr. Mallard with fondness, but immediately begins to look forward to her newfound liberation. So, what was this "heart trouble" that afflicted Mrs. Mallard? Chopin describes Mrs. Mallard as "young, with a fair, calm face." There are no other indications of ill health, yet her relatives take great care when giving her the initial news of Brently's death. Perhaps the heart trouble was not a physical problem, but rather an ailment of the soul. Mrs. Mallard was a young woman living in the 19th century, a time when women were not liberated and marriage was a lifelong commitment. She was living her life for her husband, as many women did during the late 1800's, and perhaps never felt that leaving her marriage was an option. She probably wanted to be free of her marriage, but never imagined it possible until the death of her husband. The true irony of this story is that Mrs. Mallard spends a mere hour of her life, dreaming of the
Some common words found in the essay are:
Mallard Chopin, Brently Immediately, Louise Mallard, Kate Chopin's, 19th century, heart trouble, woman living 19th, living 19th century, living life, character mallard, woman living, living 19th, story story, traditional marriage,
Approximate Word count = 645
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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