In “The Story Of An Hour,” a short story written by Kate Chopin, the desire for independence from male domination was illustrated. This theme represents a common sentiment from oppressed women in the nineteenth century. Louise Mallard, the protagonist, reveals her true feelings about her marriage to Brently Mallard. After hearing the news of her husband’s death, Louise weeps not for her loss, but for her freedom. Through the context of the story and the use of symbolism, Chopin helps us understand why the feelings of bitterness and longing for freedom are present. Louise Mallard symbolizes the mind frame of females during the time of liberation.
Louise and Brently Mallard had a very traditional marriage in which she was the one staying at home and doing all the household chores, while he was going on business trips. She played the role of a loving, traditional, young housewife. After seeing her husband travel, she too wanted to go and have her own adventure. Since women were not permitted to do what men were doing at the time this story took place, Louise was jealous of her husband. Soon her love for him became bitter and she eventually despised
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Her husband, the only one holding her back, was no longer with her. But, Louise still wonders about her newfound freedom. Louise Mallard denotes the mentality of women during the period of independence.
While Louise has a passion for living, she begins to savor the sweet sense of freedom. Louise feels a great sense of peace knowing that he is no longer coming back and she can go out whenever she wants without his consent. There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory” (20).
In Kate Chopin’s, “The Story Of An Hour,” the irony of the story is that instead of a husband’s death causes pain and grief; there is a sense of relief. She dies because she realizes that since he is not dead, she will not be free. Her struggle as a feminist woman in the...