ENGL 1102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Kate Chopin
Over the course of history, mankind has determined different roles throughout the ages,
with respect to gender. Man, in his natural state, is often portrayed to be a being that supports the
family unit through means of nourishment, shelter, and security. Women are often simply
regarded as an afterthought; beings that simply assist men in their aforementioned activities.
Though times have changed for the better, this stereotype still persists ever so slightly in the
form of double standards, objectification women, and wage disparities in the workplace. Kate
Chopin relays through the narrative of “The Story of an Hour” the stifled nature of women
throughout history and their expected roles in society.
Burdened with a heart disease, Louise Mallard is told that her husband Brently had
passed away in a train wreck. Once she hears the news, she runs to her bedroom in distress
seeking solitude, and refuses to let anyone in. Fearful of the uncertain future she must now face
alone, she begins to sob and is distressed. However, a strange feeling begins to shape and take
form within her and she begins to whisper to herself, “free, free free!” (Chopin, 307). Instead of
feeling the customary grief and misery felt by those who have lost a loved one, Louise begins to
realize that she is released from the chains of marriage and begins to imagine her life without
being suppressed by her husband. Through this story, Chopin describes how women did not have
many rights in the 19th century. Like Louise, women did not have a voice and were given the
only role as a wife during this time period. “But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching
toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air.” (Chopin, 307). Through
this metaphor, Chopin personifies Louise’s freedom as something that crawls towards her as if it
was waiting for her all along. This conveys the feminist theme of the story and how women and
men should have equal rights and how her marriage was the only thing standing in the way
between Louise and her freedom.
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Document Summary
Over the course of history, mankind has determined different roles throughout the ages, with respect to gender. Man, in his natural state, is often portrayed to be a being that supports the family unit through means of nourishment, shelter, and security. Women are often simply regarded as an afterthought; beings that simply assist men in their aforementioned activities. Though times have changed for the better, this stereotype still persists ever so slightly in the form of double standards, objectification women, and wage disparities in the workplace. Chopin relays through the narrative of the story of an hour the stifled nature of women throughout history and their expected roles in society. Burdened with a heart disease, louise mallard is told that her husband brently had passed away in a train wreck. Once she hears the news, she runs to her bedroom in distress seeking solitude, and refuses to let anyone in.
