The theme of "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin is a woman's response to her husband's passing. All of the events in the tale take place within an hour, as suggested by the title. Mrs. Mallard sobs when she hears about her husband's passing and then goes to her chamber to lock herself in. She imagines her new existence without her husband and is secretly jubilant as she does so. As if her marriage had been stifling, the news of her husband's passing has given her some relief. She is briefly relieved, though, when she learns that Mr. Mallard is still alive, which ultimately leads to her own demise. An analysis of the story reveals that Chopin uses a number of symbols to depict the theme of quest for identity through the characterization of Mrs Mallard.
Firstly, Chopin uses object symbol to capture the theme of quest for identity. After crying, Mrs Mallard proceed to her room where “…facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair…she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul” (Chopin 1). Chopin uses the window to symbolize Mrs Mallard new sense of freedom, and how this will lead her quest for self-identity. According to Jane, as Mrs Mallard sits in her room she begins to comprehend how her new life will be without her husband (56). Indeed, she lets out a victorious cry “free, free, free” (Chopin 2). Mrs Mallard was finally free from the chains of her husband who had oppressed her quest for identity. She imagined how she would go on a journey of self-discovery “beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely” (Chopin 2) without anyone restricting her. In essence, Chopin uses the symbol of the objects in the room to depict the theme of quest for identity.
At the same time, the symbol of setting of the story is also used to capture the theme of quest for identity. According to Jane, the story is set in the late 1800s during the railroad age. Men worked outside their homes, and took paying jobs while women stayed at home cooking and cleaning for their children. Furthermore, wives had to submit to their husband’s total authority without question (Jane 55). Mrs Mallard was restricted by the societal norms which in turn resulted to her identify being determined as a wife. In the story, it is evident that Mrs Mallard does not want to live under her husband’s care and leadership. Indeed, “…he would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature” (Chopin 2). According to Richardson, the story is set in such a way that it suggests the renewed sense of life that Mrs Mallard feels when she thinks of life without her husband (165). In essence, the setting of the story allows Chopin to depict the theme of identity from another perspective.
Further, Mrs Mallard’s sister Josephine is also used as a symbol to depict the theme of identity. As they leave the room, they hold hands together so that they can join Richard. According to Chopin, “…he carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory. She clasped her sister's waist, and together they descended the stairs” (3). Josephine is used to symbolize Mrs Mallard’s new partner as they descend the stairs. It is like a new life of self-identity awaits Mrs Mallard once they get to the end of the stairs. It is a life of self-identity devoid of her husband to restrict her.
Nevertheless, to her shock she realizes that her husband is not dead and Chopin further uses the object of the door to depict the theme of identity. Mrs Mallard comes to this realization when “…one was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly…” (Chopin 3). It is at this point when she realizes that her dreams of self-identity have been shattered. Her husband will still be around, and there is no way she can pursue self-identity with him still around, and her shock results to her death.
To conclude, “The Story of an Hour” employs different symbols to depict the theme of identity. More often than not, death causes sadness in families but this is not the case for Mrs Mallard who is inwardly joyful on the news of her husband’s death. She wants to pursue a journey of self-identity which is reflected through various symbols. The symbols include objects, people and the setting of the story. While she will not be able to pursue self-identity, the author succeeds in portraying the theme through the symbols. In general, the symbols have a reinforced meaning in the way they are portrayed by the author in the story.
Works Cited
Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. Vogue, 1894. https://my.hrw.com/support/hos/hostpdf/host_text_219.pdf [Accessed March 18, 2017]
Jane, Rebecca. Dumpy Yarns & Diminutive Legends: A Collection of Poems, Essays, and Short Stories. Lulu. com, 2012.
Richard, Jack. Literature. 1st ed., New Delhi, Lotus Press, 2009,.
