Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

Words: 648

Pages: 3

Open Document

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 could live for herself” (Chopin 289). A few moments later, Josephine came to check on her. When Louise opened the door and walked downstairs with her sister, it was then that she saw her husband, alive, at the front door. The sight of him had caused her to collapse and die of a heart attack. The story discusses the desire for independence within a marriage. …show more content…
One example is Chopin’s use of figurative imagery. After hearing the news of her husband’s death, Louise went up to her room and stared out the window. While looking around, Louise noticed a patch of blue sky. This patch of blue sky caused her to have an idea: “There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully…She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air” (Chopin 288). The idea of something physically reaching out to Louise through her senses is an instance of figurative imagery. It lets us visualize how strongly her idea of freedom came to

The Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

“The Story of an Hour” Fiction Literary Analysis Essay In the short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, the story explores Mrs. Mallard’s character through the story’s setting and conflict. Mrs. Mallard was suddenly stuck by severally devastating news, but through her emotional reflection, she was able to see a lighter side to the situation. Although she did have a valid reason as to why she eventually reacted the way she did, it would be an emotional reaction that would be disfavored…

Words 535 - Pages 3

Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

In “The Story of an Hour”, Mrs. Mallard's husband has passed in a accident, she has a heart condition, therefore, her family made sure to inform her carefully. I consider Mrs. Mallard’s conflicts to be internal and external. When Mrs, Mallard was informed about her husband’s death she appeared to have mixed feelings. Her conflict is external because she is obviously heartbroken that her soulmate is gone, although she loved him with all her heart, she appears to be happy that he is gone as well. In…

Words 203 - Pages 1

Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” represents freedom, independence, and opportunities. As Louise sits in her chair in her chair and looks out the open window, she realizes the opportunities she has now that her husband is dead. She “sees tops of trees, the delicious breath of rain in the air, a peddler crying his wares, she hears a song, and countless sparrows twittering in the eaves” (1). Everything that Louise experiences is joyous and promising of new opportunities. “But, for one climatic hour of her life…

Words 1089 - Pages 5

Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

Kate Chopin limits the setting in her short literary work “The Story of an Hour” to a room, a staircase, and a front door in order to convey a theme of marriage confinement. At the commencement of this narrative, Mrs. Mallard was given a troubling report; her husband had perished in a railroad disaster. She was quite dismayed by this fact and burst into tears, going up to her room to be alone soon after receiving the news. As Mrs. Mallard sat in her chamber, she began to ruminate, her contemplation…

Words 426 - Pages 2

Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

The Story of an Hour is a tragic and interesting tale by Kate Chopin that tells of a wife, Mrs. Mallard who that has a weak heart, the joy she feels when she learns of her spouse’s death. That gleefulness was soon shattered though when Mrs. Mallard sees that her husband lives and she dies from the shock. This story is a wonderful example of man vs. self and man vs society conflict and it shows a variety of themes. The Story of an Hour’s main conflict is about man vs. self or in this case Mrs. Mallard…

Words 600 - Pages 3

Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

"The Story of an Hour" follows an emotion filled journey of a young woman named Louis Mallard,who thinks her husband has passed away in an tragic accident. In the beginning of the story Louis goes through a heartbreak when she learns about her husband, "she wept at once" a "wild, abandoment" cry (p.172). However, "she [didn't] hear the story as many women [would've] heard...with paralyzed inability" (p.172), showing that Louis was different then other married women. After crying Louis goes to her…

Words 236 - Pages 1

Literary Analysis- the Story of an Hour Essay

Ride of Her Life In “The Story of an Hour” (1894), Kate Chopin presents a woman in the last hour of her life and the emotional and psychological changes that occur upon hearing of her husbands’ death. Chopin sends the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard, on a roller coaster of emotional up’s and down’s, and self-actualizing psychological hairpin turns, which is all set in motion by the news of her husband’s death. This extreme “joy ride” comes to an abrupt and ultimately final halt for Mrs. Mallard when…

Words 1837 - Pages 8

Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis Essay

The Story Of An Hour “The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin seems to express an unfavorable view of marriage by endowing the reader with a character who is clearly happy that she is no longer tied to the bonds of marital partnership. Elements such as language and emotion work together in three transitional developments to exemplify Kate Chopin’s use of shock, suspense, and surprise throughout the story leading to an ironic ending where Louise’s heart is pushed to its limits. = To continue, a variety…

Words 1363 - Pages 6

Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis Essay

In “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, a young woman discovers that her liberation can be purchased solely with the currency of a death. Louise Mallard is informed in the introduction of the story about an accident in which it is believed her husband, Brently, has perished. After her initial grief subsides, Louise decides to be alone in order to contemplate the tragic news. Feelings that are foreign to Louise emerge as she struggles to understand the emotion that is coming to her. Josephine, Louise’s…

Words 323 - Pages 2

Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis Essay

own Happiness A creative plot twist always catches a reader’s attention. In the short story “The Story of an Hour” the author Kate Chopins surprises the readers with a surprising plot twist. Chopins really uses her imagination to write an entertaining story that reveals irony in a young woman’s marriage. Chopins explains how one person shouldn’t determine your happiness and freedom. “The Story of an Hour” is about a young lady name Louise Mallard who just discovers that she is a widow. Mrs. Mallard…

Words 489 - Pages 2