Of Joy That Kills Essay

Submitted By Jermattack101
Words: 665
Pages: 3
Open Document
Of Joy That Kills “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin portrays a negative view of marriage by showing readers a woman who is clearly overjoyed at the news that her husband just passed away. At first Mrs. Mallard, the protagonist, is upset and cries in front of everyone. However, she then goes into her room alone to absorb her new profound freedom she gains by his death. Chopin wrote the story during a time when society considered marriage sacred and women were inferior to men. Kate Chopin uses syntax and ironic tone to express that women are oppressed by marriage, which was controversial in 1894 as women had few rights and were expected to marry. The syntax of the story, which consists of repetition and short, compact sentences, is used to strengthen the drama of the story which will ultimately keep it short and simple for a quick impact on readers. Chopin uses repetition to highlight certain points to make them stand out to readers. An example is when she repeats the word open to describe things in the story, such as “open window”, “open square”, and “she opened...her arms out”. This repetition emphasizes the freedom of Louise new life, even though readers will not view it as this at first, but through repetition they soon start to get the message. Chopin also has Mrs. Mallard repeat the words “free” many times, which because is only one of the few spoken words she says, it indicates how much she appreciates her new freedom. The short, quick sentences emulate the fact that the time covered in the story is essentially one hour (like the title), from the time she learns of the death until he returns again. While there is only three paragraphs discussing the death of her husband, the rest looking at the opportunities of her new life. It shows readers that death is not very significant in the story. Through the syntax, the reader is better able to determine the theme from the intense drama, that independence for women is a rebellious move that did not follow the norm and ideologies of society at that time.
Chopin has an ironic tone in the story to emphasize the theme that marriages are confining to the audience. An example of irony in the text is when Mrs. Mallard receives the news of her husband, after a quick weep, immediately retreats to her bedroom. The reader expects her to be depressed and at a loss for words. Instead, she sits in her “comfortable” chair and observes the new spring life, which inspires her muttering “free, free, free. Body and soul, free!”, as in free from her
Show More

Related Documents: Of Joy That Kills Essay

Joy And Pleasure In To Kill A Mockingbird

In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Miss Maudie quotes, “Anything that’s pleasure is a sin.” Miss Maudie, the Finch’s neighbor, is wrong about this. God wants us to be joyful and to have fun during our time on Earth. Ecclesiastes 2:24 declares, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God”. Activities that bring joy and pleasure can be worldly and sinful, but many others are Godly. God says in Ecclesiastes…

Words 164 - Pages 1

Analysis Of Joy That Kills By Kate Chopin

connotation of the word means loss of identity. When a women gets married she loses her identity and she is giving herself to her husband . The author demonstrated her theme through the use of dramatic irony at the end of the story by saying, “... Joy that kills”(Chopin). The readers of the story had already known she was going to die by the use of foreshadow and dramatic irony but were not expecting for her husband to be alive. Chopin uses character…

Words 256 - Pages 2

Death and Parth Patel Mrs. Harding Essays

misunderstood by their society. Mrs. Mallard's attitudes are too far outside the county to be understand. The train accident was explained carefully in order to stop a reaction and the doctors thinks that she died at his eyes from the “joy” of seeing him. “The joy that kills” they called it. The doctor said your husband is dead. Mrs. Mallard starts crying immediately. When she finally finds out what happened to her husband. It looks like she really loved her husband and she think that he's gone forever…

Words 493 - Pages 2

Grendel's First Kill Analysis

the blood that sprayed” (Gardner 79). This quote summarizes Grendel’s first kill and his first truly monstrous deed. In Grendel by John Gardner, Grendel’s actions reveal that a monster feels no remorse for hurting the helpless, through Grendel’s pleasure from his first raid and Grendel’s excitement of seemingly finding himself. When Grendel first starts his raids, it is clearly seen that he derives pleasure from each kill. In the quote, “Some three or four nights later I launched my first raid. I…

Words 570 - Pages 3

The STory of an Hour Essay

exhaustion is overcoming her from all her grief stricken weeping from the loss of her husband. Mrs. Mallard is coping with the death of her spouse in sadness and in joy. As hard as it is to believe she is having feelings of joy. This character is feeling a roller coaster of emotions. The readers wonder how this character can be feeling joy. Mrs. Mallard says that she is " 'free, free, free! ' "(169). She would enjoy all the seasons of the year for now she would do as she wish. Her life did not depend…

Words 676 - Pages 3

Isolation In Lord Of The Flies

mountain with Simon and Jack. The boys become unchained from the adult-world, which allows them to do and feel as they wish. “Piggy and Ralph, under the threat of the sky, found themselves eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure society… ‘Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Do him in’” (152)! Ralph becomes a slave to the savagery deep-rooted inside of him and the rest of mankind which causes him to become a savage. “‘I’m frightened. Of us. I want to go home. Oh God, I want to…

Words 838 - Pages 4

What Does Tom Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

In the novel to, To Kill A Mockingbird symbolism is found throughout. Harper Lee’s title To Kill A Mockingbird leaves everyone curious as to what she meant. The mockingbird is very symbolic throughout the entire book. The mockingbird represents people in oppression. It shows that through oppression the mockingbird can represent innocence and joy. Atticus first mentions the mockingbird when Jem and Scout receive their air-rifles. Atticus would not teach them to shoot he only said, “. . . Shoot all…

Words 475 - Pages 2

Tones In Beowulf

In the epic poem “Beowulf “tone is reoccurring. Tones can be very important when it comes to writing. In this poem tones are frequently used. Having tones can help the reader understand the expressions of the character. On the other hand, tone refers to the writer’s attitude towards the reader. Some tones can be serious or dramatic. However, in line 620 it says “I mean to stand, not run from his shooting Flames stand till fates decides… In this stanza, the author was trying to tell the reader…

Words 352 - Pages 2

ISIS In Beowulf

exists antagonism among humans. This sense of antagonism arrives when there is a motive. A good example of antagonism in today’s society includes ISIS, an extremist group which carries out terror attacks. ISIS members are people who have the motive to kill others because of hatred towards other societies such as West’s society. This fundamentalist group has carried out attacks in the Middle East and the West and has killed hundreds of people using different methods like planting explosives, beheading…

Words 512 - Pages 3

Personification In A Story Of An Hour

and she is sad of his passing. But, she opens her arms, because she can now see into the future of being along and she likes it. As, she is gazing out the window, she sees blue sky, fluffy clouds and treetops. Everything that she senses, is the joy of spring—new life. The opening window is providing her with life…

Words 572 - Pages 3