ENGL 1102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Kate Chopin
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin is a short story which discusses a short but very
meaningful hour of a powerful woman’s life. Louise Mallard, who has a troubling heart
condition, learns that her husband has tragically passed away in a train accident and locks herself
up in her room and ponders about her future without her husband. Unexpectedly, the author
shows us a different side of Louise, showing us how Louise feels loose and delighted. Through
Louise and her story, Chopin criticizes marriage in the Progressive Era and how oppressed
women were. Chopin also portrays the tie between freedom and the status of women in the 19th
century.
The story, written during the Progressive Era, gives the reader a glimpse of how women
did not have a say during that time period. In the 19th century, women were like possessions to
men and women had no control over their lives or their marriages. While the status of women
was rapidly changing, women still did not work outside the home during this time period.
Women did not have a voice nor did they share their opinions or feelings. (Tseng, 1) The author,
Kate Chopin, who lived during this time period, portrays the theme of freedom through Louise
Mallard.
Once hearing the terrible news of her husband’s death, Louise is very distraught and runs
up to her room. However, after locking herself in her room, she begins to ponder about her future
without a husband. Surprisingly, she begins to chant “free, free, free!” to herself. The reader sees
a completely different side of Louise as her feeling of sadness is replaced by excitement. “She
did not stop to ask if it were or were not a monstrous joy that held her.” (Chopin, 1) In a sense,
Louise is reborn to a different person. She is no longer oppressed by a husband and she no longer
has to live for someone else. “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she
would live for herself.” (Chopin, 1) Also, throughout the story, Louise is referred to as
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Document Summary
The story of an hour by kate chopin is a short story which discusses a short but very meaningful hour of a powerful woman"s life. Louise mallard, who has a troubling heart condition, learns that her husband has tragically passed away in a train accident and locks herself up in her room and ponders about her future without her husband. Unexpectedly, the author shows us a different side of louise, showing us how louise feels loose and delighted. Louise and her story, chopin criticizes marriage in the progressive era and how oppressed women were. Chopin also portrays the tie between freedom and the status of women in the 19th century. The story, written during the progressive era, gives the reader a glimpse of how women did not have a say during that time period. In the 19th century, women were like possessions to men and women had no control over their lives or their marriages.
