Nean

Besaida Diaz
Literature
Literary Analysis
October 2, 2012
Kate Chopin “The Story of an Hour”
In “The Story of an Hour”, the author presents the dilemma of understanding Louise Mallard’s reactionto her husband’s Brently tragic death. Given Louise’s heart condition her sister breaks the bad news to her slowly. Louise cries desperately as it is expected from any other woman that has just losther significant other. But rather than grieving her husband’s death, it seems like Louise feels alleviated, free, and relived from her oppressed married life. Although Louise had always loved herhusband, she feels like her sick heart and soul are finally unrestricted and thus secretly cherishes his death. Ironically it is her heart that kills her instantly when she sees Brently walk in as aliveas he could be.
Given Louise’s response to her husband’s tragedy, the first questions that cross one’s mind are; is she “selfish” or is she brave? What perspective should I take in this manner?The writer notes that this story took place in 1894, which we have a slight idea of how women were treated back then. Marriages were not the same as of nowadays. Unfortunately women’s rights andfreedom were very limited. Women were tied to their spouse’s supremacy and status and had very little control over their lives. Therefore Louise’s mixed feelings of love, marriage and independence carriedher into conflicting emotions of grief at her husband's death and rejoicing at dreams of the new life full of freedom awaiting her.
Louise feels relieved from the weight in her frustrated mind due tothe bitter past. It is the time for a change that she is going to appreciate greatly after living trapped within her and her liberty deprived marriage for all those years.
Did she die of joy as thedoctors pronounce it? Ironically her “troubled” heart could not resist the joy of regaining Brently along with the enormous disappointment at the loss of the new life she had envisioned.
Although...