Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour - Liberating and Tragic:
Length: 460 words (1.7 pages)
Rating: Red (FREE)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Liberating and Tragic Story of an Hour
The Story of an Hour is both a liberating story as well as a tragic story. Mrs. Mallard's situation is most likely not an unusual one. It is so well demonstrated that Mrs. Mallard's devotion to her husband is not without limit. It seems that she has grown accustomed to her husband and remains with him out of stationary comfort and tradition.
The most interesting element of this story is how Mrs. Mallard's emotions are so subtly alluded to. As Mrs. Mallard sits in the chair, staring blankly out the window, the reader suspects her true feelings The narrator observes that, "There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled above the other in the west facing her window" (179). Already, the reader recognizes the blue sky as a sign of hope. A sign of hope emerging from a heavy gloominess. Soon enough the reader's suspicions are confirmed as Mrs. Mallard sits in her chair chanting to herself, "Free, free, free" (180)!
It is obvious at this point that Mrs. Mallard has been liberated through her husband's misfortune. Mrs. Mallard is not, however, completely without care. She admits that she will cry again at Mr. Mallard's funeral. Mrs. Mallard sees the coming grief as a temporary hurdle and looks hopefully to the future; a future of self-discovery and well-received freedom. Mrs. Mallard's freedom is quickly abandoned, however, as Brently Mallard stumbles in the door. At his sight, Mrs. Mallard succumbs to her weak heart. The reader knows that her death is due to shattered dreams brought on with shock.
The doctor's are, as is everyone else, under the impression that Mrs. Mallard's love for her husband was without limit. The doctors announce that she had died of heart disease "- of joy that kills" (180). This concluding line is probably the most interesting. The reader knows, through the limited omniscient narrator, the true sentiments of Mrs. Mallard and the irony lays in the fact that Mrs. Mallard could not endure the confines of her superficial marriage.
One element that seemed to blemish the credibility of the story was the error of Richards. The narrator clearly states that Richards checked the validity of the misfortune twice. It seems strange that after such extensive precaution, there is still error. Mrs. Mallard makes an accurate and well described summation of her affairs when , "She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long" (180).
Chopin is to be commended in her ability to capture the sympathy of the reader. Upon Mrs. Mallard's death, the reader feels a sense of relief; relieved that Mrs. Mallard will not spend another day simply co-existing, heartlessly, with the unsuspecting Brently Mallard.
Search for: [having seen] [mrs mrs] [reform movements] [death comes]
|
Important Note: If you'd like to save a copy of the
paper on your computer, you can COPY and PASTE it into your word
processor. Please, follow these steps to do that in Windows:
1. Select the text of the paper with the mouse and press Ctrl+C. Azete.com (the "Web Site") is produced by the "Company". The contents of this Web Site, such as text, graphics, images, audio, video and all other material ("Material"), are protected by copyright under both United States and foreign laws. The Company makes no representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the Material or about the results to be obtained from using the Material. You expressly agree that any use of the Material is entirely at your own risk. Most of the Material on the Web Site is provided and maintained by third parties. This third party Material may not be screened by the Company prior to its inclusion on the Web Site. You expressly agree that the Company is not liable or responsible for any defamatory, offensive, or illegal conduct of other subscribers or third parties. The Materials are provided on an as-is basis without warranty express or implied. The Company and its suppliers and affiliates disclaim all warranties, including the warranty of non-infringement of proprietary or third party rights, and the warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. The Company and its suppliers make no warranties as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the material, services, text, graphics and links. For a complete statement of the Terms of Service, please see our website. By obtaining these materials you agree to abide by the terms herein, by our Terms of Service as posted on the website and any and all alterations, revisions and amendments thereto. |
rthy to command. Some similar qualities the two share are that they are leaders of their people and hold power. Theseus has the power over an army and Oberon has a mysterious right-hand man known as Puck who does Oberon's dirty work using majic. Another quality they have in common is that they keep... of existence. It seemed that no environmental, natural or human issue was too large or important in contrast to the larger picture of progression and gain of knowledge. Mankind became greedy with power and had little if any regard for the damage that they may do to mother earth f...ncurred in another jurisdiction than itself. FACTS: A mortgage company foreclosed on a mortgage through a state court that granted summary judgment to the mortgagor. Subsequently, the mortgagees' filed a petition for bankruptcy under Chapter 13 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; later, t...e above shows that the child's ability to see pleasure becomes deeper and more meditative. The child is realizing that the surface pleasures do not have the same effect on him as they used to. Another quote that shows the transition is "Whither is fled the visionary gleam?"(l.56). Here the sp...