Kate Chopin's "Story of an Hour" is a piece which dealt with a woman (Mrs. Mallard) that was not happy in her marriage. She wanted to be free..."Free! Body and soul free!" But because of the time period which this story took place in, divorce was not an option for her. Learning of her husbands death gave her a chance to finally be free, although with the news she went through all sorts of emotions which wasn't so great being that she had a heart condition. Of course she felt pain but the smell of freedom being so close was the most important to her. The phrase "til' death do us part" was the only way for Mrs. Mallard and in a way that's what she got. In the end, she was just that... free!
There are so many people today who aren't happy in their marriages and although divorce is an option, for some it isn't. Some people choose to stay and weather the storm because of religious beliefs, some because of children, some because of "love", and some because they feel it is just the right thing to do while others leave and take the opportunity to be free the first chance they get.
Right--now, explore some of the details of image and pattern in the story--how does the point of view character (central character, protagonist--i.e., Mrs Mallard)change during the course of the story; the final, literal change, from life to death, is an ironic one...given the opposite takes place symbolically during the course of the story
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Amber! She was free in a way at the end... Ol' Josephine should have known better!
ReplyDeleteAnd I think that in today's society, if a person wants out, they get out. Only a select few will stay because they think it is their duty or because of religious reasons.
I agree may people stay when they are unhappy when its easier to walk a way and in this story it seemes as if death was the only way. its just so sad that she was so disappointed in the end that she died of -the joy that kill.. so one way or another freedom still was her outcome.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, even nowadays divorce is not an option for many people even with the mush suffer they face. Mallard was an example of many women who are facing many problem in marriage and dreaming to feel free, however the only way for her was death.
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