The “Story of an Hour” by Chopin traces its setting back in 1890s and was told by an unknown third person narrator. It is a short story characterized by an arrangement of short paragraphs which enable readers understand the intention of the author easily. Additionally, the narration employs different structural and stylistic techniques to capture the attention of the author and achieve the goal of depicting the major themes. One of the techniques used by the writer is symbolism. In literature, “symbolism entails use of words, situations, persons or objects to represent something else while creating a particular emotion or mood” (Kennedy and Gioia 121). The story utilizes different forms of symbols to illustrate themes such as identity, independence, freedom and oppression in marriage.
The condition in the heart of Louise is the symbol of how she feels imprisoned and crushed in the marriage. According to the western culture and art, hearts are frequently utilized to symbolize love, thus the “heart trouble” is not only physical but also psychological in nature (Wan 168). Furthermore, “the heart condition is meant to represent the women of the 19th century who were not able to find happiness and motherhood in marriage since their freedom was restricted” (Wan 165). According to “Story of an Hour,” the writer warns against the oppressive nature of marriages because Louise is happy upon learning of her husband’s accident even though she admits that Mr. Mallard was kind and loving. For instance, the author states that she loved her husband sometimes but often did not which demonstrates the likelihood of weakness or state of no love in marriage (Chopin 46). Additionally, the author portrays a situation where Mrs. Mallard is happy because she perceives “no powerful will bending her” (Chopin 279). This explains the joyful feeling of Mrs. Mallard after realizing her husband had an accident, hence indicating that the marriage was oppressive (Chopin 54).
Moreover, the door to Louise’s room represents her soul’s inner sanctum and mind which creates the themes of independence and acquired freedom. She retreats to the room and closes the door after which she stays for a long time such that her sister looks via the keyhole and begs the door to be opened (Wan 170). The door symbolizes the private life and freedom of Mrs. Mallard as well as an illustration of her real feelings without concern of what others are thinking about her. Mrs. Mallard observes tree tops have new life springs which represents the start of a new life after the end of an oppressive marriage. In addition, the open gap provides a bright and clear view to Louise’s independence and freedom symbolizing a new future. Also, the chair on which Mrs. Mallard sits on after hearing the accident news is a symbol representing Louise’s escape from the repressive marriage. The chair is described as a “comfortable roomy armchair” which suggests that Mrs. Mallard has room to move around in her new life without marriage restrictions (Chopin 57).
Mrs. Mallard, a heroine within “Story of an Hour", is presented as a lady having a weak heart. When her husband died, Mrs. Mallard was not able to imagine freedom without her husband. The term "freedom" haunted her, the aspect of being oppression-free. Pingchie points out concerning the debate on the personality of Mrs. Mallard. He describes Mrs. Mallard as an anomaly, a selfish monster, and an egocentric (Pingchie 15). Upon the death of Mr. Mallard, Louise began constructive relations with her environment and the people around her. It is normal for women to weep and grieve during the death of their husbands; however, the passionate reaction of Mrs. Mallard towards the death of her husband made the audience raise questions concerning her personality and emotions. Throughout the book “The Story of an Hour", Mrs. Mallard’s constant fight for freedom makes readers confused if the condition of her heart relates to her reaction. Jamil points out that the trouble in the heart of Mrs. Mallard is not about a physical disorder, this indicates symbolically a woman that has submitted her soul or heart unconsciously to the paternal culture. consequently, she undergoes a situation of appearing optimistic concerning life (Jamil 34). Then, as consequence, the weak heart of Mrs. Mallard, which is expected to be frail, leads to an immediate transformation of her fear into uncontrollable joy. The interpretation by Chopin of Mrs. Mallard is totally different to most women; Chopin says that Louise Mallard’s body reacted to the emotions within her, She feels connected to the physical world in a rhythmic manner, by repeatedly citing words such as "free" in her mind as an indication that the death of her husband has enhanced the connection between her and the world. According to Chopin, the heroine may be depicted as a heartless lady unfearful concerning her husband’s death, but on the contrary displays signs of joy and glee. Jamil raises questions concerning the challenge posed by the ending to the reader concerning the perception of death by the audience (Chopin 277).
The death of Mrs. Mallard’s husband seemed to be a way of escaping the bondage of marriage. Pingchie is also of the opinion that Mrs. Mallard was being influenced by Brently by stating that her willpower and character strength are apparently absorbed and controlled by the forceful dominance though well-meant character of Brently Mallard and points out that her actions were as result of a "crazed" feeling for being completely free from marriage (Kennedy and Gioia 167). As a character, Mrs. Mallard, indicates that she is conscious concerning her actions via the arrival of Brently. Thus, this was Mrs. Mallard life’s climactic hour of true joy, causing her heart to collapse and fail. The personality of Louise Mallard within "Story of an Hour" seems to display an image that is contrary to the expected wife’s behavior (Mays 524). The behavior by Mrs. Mallard illustrates the negative impact of making assumptions and in consequence, she died because her newly found freedom was ripped away. Josephine, sister to Louise Mallard, was completely wrong in her opinion that her sister’s behavior was as a result of sickness and not as conscience of her personality. Chopin wants readers to see the irony between what her sister perceives and the real perception by the society. Moreover, the author illustrates the identity theme through enabling readers recognize the full name of Mrs. Mallard as revealed by Josephine.
In conclusion, the author uses symbolism to represent the fact that Mrs. Mallard has achieved a new responsibility after Mr. Mallard died; since she is no longer confined, restricted, or trapped in marriage hence free to exercise self-expression. Moreover, Chopin clearly shows that ladies normally lose their identity or individuality during marriage since men dominate them.
Works Cited
Chopin, Kate. The story of an hour : short story. Toronto, Ontario : Harper Perennial Classics, 2014. Print.
Jamil, S. Selina. "Emotions in the Story of an Hour." Explicator, vol. 67, no. 3 (2009): 215-220. Print.
Kennedy, X J and Dana Gioia. Literature an introduction to fiction, poetry, drama and writing. Boston: USA Pearson, 2013. Print.
Mays, Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature. New York: W.W. Norton " Company, 2016. Print.
Pingchie, Lorna A. The Story of an Hour: " Excerpts from Partita in C Minor. Smith College: Northampton, Mass, 1988. Print.
Wan, Xuemei. "Kate Chopin’s View on Death and Freedom in The Story of an Hour." English Language Teaching, 2(4) (2009): 167-170. Print.
