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'The Story of an Hour' Questions for Study and Discussion

Kate Chopin's Famous Short Story

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" The Story of an Hour " is one of the greatest works by Kate Chopin.

Mrs. Mallard has a heart condition, which means that if she's startled she could die. So, when news comes that her husband's been killed in an accident, the people who tell her have to cushion the blow. Mrs. Mallard's sister Josephine sits down with her and dances around the truth until Mrs. Mallard finally understands what happened. The deceased Mr. Mallard's friend, Richards, hangs out with them for moral support.

Richards originally found out because he had been in the newspaper headquarters when a report of the accident that killed Mr. Mallard, which happened on a train, came through. Richards waited for proof from a second source before going to the Mallards' to share the news.

When Mrs. Mallard finds out what happened she acts differently from most women in the same position, who might disbelieve it. She cries passionately before deciding to go to her room to be by herself.

In her room, Mrs. Mallard sits down on a comfy chair and feels completely depleted. She looks out the window and looks out at a world that seems alive and fresh. She can see the sky coming between the rain clouds .

Mrs. Mallard sits still, occasionally crying briefly like a kid might. The narrator describes her as youthful and pretty, but because of this news she looks preoccupied and absent. She seems to be holding out for some kind of unknown news or knowledge, which she can tell is approaching. Mrs. Mallard breathes heavily and tries to resist before succumbing to this unknown thing, which is a feeling of freedom.

Acknowledging freedom makes her revive, and she doesn't consider whether she should feel bad about it. Mrs. Mallard thinks to herself about how she'll cry when she sees her husband's dead body and how much he loved her. Even so, she's kind of excited about the chance to make her own decisions and not feel accountable to anyone.

Mrs. Mallard feels even more swept up by the idea of freedom than the fact that she had felt love for her husband. She focuses on how liberated she feels. Outside the locked door to the room, her sister Josephine is pleading to her to open up and let her in. Mrs. Mallard tells her to go away and fantasizes about the exciting life ahead. Finally, she goes to her sister and they go downstairs.

Suddenly, the door opens and Mr. Mallard comes in. He's not dead and doesn't even know anyone thought he was. Even though Richards and Josephine try to protect Mrs. Mallard from the sight, they can't. She receives the shock they tried to prevent at the beginning of the story. Later, the medical people who examine her say that she was full of so much happiness that it murdered her.

Study Guide Questions 

• What is important about the title?
• What are the conflicts in "The Story of an Hour"? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) do you see in this story?
• How does Kate Chopin reveal character in "The Story of an Hour"?
• What are some themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters?
• What are some symbols in "The Story of an Hour"? How do they relate to the plot and characters?
• Is Mrs. Millard consistent in her actions? Is she a fully developed character? How? Why?
• Do you find the characters likable? Would you want to meet the characters?
• Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?
• What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?
• Why is the story usually considered a work of feminist literature?
• How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?
• What is the role of women in the text? What about single/independent women?
• Would you recommend this story to a friend?
• "The Story of an Hour" Characters
• Quotes From 'The Story of an Hour' by Kate Chopin
• Analysis of "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
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• Analysis of 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by C. Perkins Gilman
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• Discussion Questions for 'A Christmas Carol'
• Kate Chopin's 'The Storm': Quick Summary and Analysis
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116 The Story of an Hour Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a short but powerful story that explores the complexities of marriage, freedom, and self-discovery. With its rich themes and thought-provoking narrative, this classic piece of literature has inspired countless essays and discussions. If you're looking for essay topic ideas and examples for The Story of an Hour, you've come to the right place. Here are 116 essay topics to help you get started:

• Analyze the character of Mrs. Mallard and how she evolves throughout the story.
• Explore the theme of freedom in The Story of an Hour.
• Discuss the role of marriage in the story and how it impacts the characters.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's emotions before and after learning of her husband's death.
• Examine the use of irony in the story and how it contributes to the overall theme.
• Discuss the significance of the title "The Story of an Hour" and how it relates to the plot.
• Analyze the symbolism of the open window in the story.
• Explore the theme of female independence in The Story of an Hour.
• Discuss the role of societal expectations in the story and how they influence the characters' actions.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of other characters in the story.
• Analyze the significance of the setting in The Story of an Hour.
• Discuss the theme of repression in the story and how it affects the characters' relationships.
• Explore the theme of mortality in The Story of an Hour.
• Discuss the role of gender in the story and how it shapes the characters' experiences.
• Analyze the use of foreshadowing in The Story of an Hour.
• Discuss the theme of self-discovery in the story and how it impacts the characters' development.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of society's expectations.
• Analyze the symbolism of the heart trouble in the story.
• Discuss the theme of isolation in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the theme of rebirth in the story and how it relates to Mrs. Mallard's journey.
• Analyze the role of communication in the story and how it affects the characters' relationships.
• Discuss the theme of empowerment in The Story of an Hour.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her sister's.
• Analyze the role of denial in the story and how it influences the characters' actions.
• Discuss the theme of time in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the theme of grief in the story and how it impacts the characters' emotions.
• Analyze the symbolism of the railroad in the story.
• Discuss the theme of liberation in The Story of an Hour.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her friend's.
• Analyze the role of symbolism in the story and how it enhances the narrative.
• Discuss the theme of identity in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the theme of fate in the story and how it influences the characters' choices.
• Analyze the symbolism of the staircase in the story.
• Discuss the theme of transformation in The Story of an Hour.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her mother's.
• Analyze the role of foils in the story and how they contribute to the characters' development.
• Discuss the theme of betrayal in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the theme of forgiveness in the story and how it impacts the characters' relationships.
• Analyze the symbolism of the storm in the story.
• Discuss the theme of redemption in The Story of an Hour.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her father's.
• Analyze the role of irony in the story and how it enhances the narrative.
• Discuss the theme of sacrifice in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the theme of perspective in the story and how it influences the characters' perceptions.
• Analyze the symbolism of the caged bird in the story.
• Discuss the theme of acceptance in The Story of an Hour.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her neighbors'.
• Explore the theme of choice in the story and how it impacts the characters' decisions.
• Analyze the symbolism of the garden in the story.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her colleagues'.
• Analyze the role of foreshadowing in the story and how it contributes to the overall theme.
• Explore the theme of self-discovery in the story and how it impacts the characters' development.
• Analyze the symbolism of the mirror in the story.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her classmates'.
• Discuss the theme of mortality in The Story of an Hour.
• Discuss the theme of female independence in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the theme of repression in the story and how it affects the characters' relationships.
• Discuss the theme of freedom in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the role of marriage in the story and how it impacts the characters.
• Analyze the use of irony in the story and how it contributes to the overall theme.
• Discuss the significance of the setting in The Story of an Hour.
• Analyze the role of marriage in the story and how it impacts the characters.
• Analyze the significance of the title "The Story of an Hour" and how it relates to the plot.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to

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The Story of An Hour - Study Guide

Kate Chopin 's The Story of An Hour (1894) is considered one of the finest pieces of Feminist Literature. We hope that our study guide is particularly useful for teachers and students to get the most from the story and appreciate its boldness shaking up the literary community of its time.

Here's the story: The Story of An Hour , Character Analysis & Summary , Genre & Themes , Historical Context , Quotes , Discussion Questions , Useful Links , and Notes/Teacher Comments

Character Analysis & Summary

Plot Summary : Chopin basically summarizes the external events of the story in the first sentence: "Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death."

Genre & Themes

Challenge Social Conventions : Rather than conform to what's expected, honor your own needs. Just because it's the way it's always been, doesn't mean it has to continue at your expense.

Situational Irony : Life's a bitch-- just when you think you're free from obligation, you go and die yourself, which kind of makes liberation a bit pointless. Chopin's story is a great example of the literary device called situational irony .

Historical Context

Feminist literature, both fiction and non-fiction, supports feminist goals for the equal rights of women in their economic, social, civic, and political status relative to men. Such literature dates back to the 15th century (The Tale of Joan of Arc by Christine de Pisan), Mary Wollstonecraft in the 18th century, Virginia Woolf , Elizabeth Cady Stanton , Florence Nightingale , Elizabeth Perkins Gilman , and Louisa May Alcott . Kate Chopin 's best known novel, The Awakening (1899) and Mary E. Wilkins Freeman 's A New England Nun (1891) led the emerging modern feminist literary movement into the 20th century, during which women earned the right to vote, fought for economic, social, political, educational, and reproductive rights with Gloria Steinem and the Women's Liberation Movement. The 21st century has brought a resurgence of interest in Margaret Atwood 's The Handmaid's Tale with a new streaming video series , and the Women's March After President Trump's Inauguration (2017) drew more than a million protesters in cities throughout the country and world.

It's helpful to know the list of grievances and demands a group of activitists (mostly women) published in The Declaration of Sentiments in 1848. Principal author and first women's conference organizer was Elizabeth Cady Stanton , with high-profile support from abolitionist Frederick Douglass . Many more struggles and attempts to change public opinion followed the conference; it took 72 more years for women to secure the right to vote.

A brief History of Feminism

“Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death."

“She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance."

“When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her."

“She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will--as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been."

"'Free, free, free!'' The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright."

"What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!"

"When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills."

Discussion Questions

9. Elaborate on Chopin's uses of irony: 1) Situational Irony : when she gets her freedom, she dies anyway 2) Verbal irony : What is said explicitly is much different than the text's inferences (thinking rather than saying). Reacting to news of a spouse's death with relief, nevermind "monstrous joy" is an "inappropriate" response, for sure. She keeps these thoughts in her head (whispering her chant), with the door closed.

10. Discuss the concept of repression and Chopin's assertion of her real cause of death: "the joy that kills."

11. Read Chopin's allegory about freedom from a cage, her short-short story, Emancipation: A Life Fable . Compare its theme, tone, symbols, and use of irony to this story.

Essay Prompt : Tell the same story from Josephine's point of view (remember, Louisa keeps her door shut most of the time).

Essay Prompt : Consider reading the one act play by Susan Glaspell , Trifles (1916), about a murder trial which challenges our perceptions of justice and morality. Compare it to Chopin's The Story of An Hour

Essay Prompt : Read Kate Chopin 's biography (feel free to extend your research to other sources). How does her personal story reflect her writing?

Useful Links

Biography and Works by Kate Chopin

American Literature's biographies of featured Women Writers

ELA Common Core Lesson plan ideas for "The Story of An Hour"

Veiled Hints and Irony in Chopin's "The Story of An Hour"

Feminist Approaches to Literature , read more about the genre

Kate Chopin's "The Awakening": Searching for Women & Identity

KateChopin.org's biography and assessment of her work

Is It Actually Ironic? TED-Ed lessons on irony

Notes/Teacher Comments

Visit our Teacher Resources , supporting literacy instruction across all grade levels

American Literature's Study Guides

The Story of an Hour Critical Analysis Essay

Looking for a critical analysis of The Story of an Hour ? The essay on this page contains a summary of Kate Chopin’s short story, its interpretation, and feminist criticism. Find below The Story of an Hour critique together with the analysis of its characters, themes, symbolism, and irony.

Introduction

Works cited.

The Story of an Hour was written by Kate Chopin in 1984. It describes a woman, Mrs. Mallard, who lost her husband in an accident, but later the truth came out, and the husband was alive. This essay will discuss The Story of an Hour with emphasis on the plot and development of the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard, who goes through contrasting emotions and feelings that finally kill her on meeting her husband at the door, yet he had been said to be dead.

The Story of an Hour Summary

Kate Chopin narrated the story of a woman named Mrs. Mallard who had a heart health problem. One day the husband was mistaken to have died in an accident that occurred. Due to her heart condition, her sister had to take care while breaking the bad news to her. She was afraid that such news of her husband’s death would cost her a heart attack. She strategized on how to break the news to her sister bit by bit, which worked perfectly well. Mrs. Mallard did not react as expected; instead, she started weeping just once.

She did not hear the story as many women have had the same with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms (Woodlief 2).

Mrs. Mallard wondered how she would survive without a husband. She went to one room and locked herself alone to ponder what the death of her husband brought to her life. She was sorrowful that her husband had died, like it is human to be sad at such times. This is someone very close to her, but only in a short span of time was no more. This sudden death shocked her. Her sister Josephine and friends Mr. Richard and Louise are also sorry for the loss (Taibah 1).

As she was in that room alone, she thought genuinely about the future. Unexpectedly, she meditated on her life without her husband. Apart from sorrow, she started counting the better part of her life without her husband. She saw many opportunities and freedom to do what she wanted with her life. She believed that the coming years would be perfect for her as she only had herself to worry about. She even prayed that life would be long.

After some time, she opened the door for Josephine, her sister, who had a joyous face. They went down the stairs of the house, and Mr. Mallard appeared as he opened the gate. Mr. Mallard had not been involved in the accident and could not understand why Josephine was crying. At the sight of her husband, Mr. Mallard, his wife, Mrs. Mallard, collapsed to death. The doctors said that she died because of heart disease.

The Story of an Hour Analysis

Mrs. Mallard was known to have a heart problem. Richard, who is Mr. Mallard’s friend, was the one who learned of Mr. Mallard’s death while in the office and about the railroad accident that killed him. They are with Josephine, Mrs. Mallard’s sister, as she breaks the news concerning the sudden death of her husband. The imagery clearly describes the situation.

The writer brought out the suspense in the way he described how the news was to be broken to a person with a heart problem. There is a conflict that then follows in Mrs. Mallard’s response which becomes more complicated. The death saddens Mrs. Mallard, but, on the other hand, she counts beyond the bitter moments and sees freedom laid down for her for the rest of her life. The description of the room and the environment symbolize a desire for freedom.

This story mostly focuses on this woman and a marriage institution. Sad and happy moments alternate in the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard. She is initially sad about the loss of her husband, then in a moment, ponders on the effects of his death and regains strength.

Within a short period, she is shocked by the sight of her husband being alive and even goes to the extreme of destroying her life. She then dies of a heart attack, whereas she was supposed to be happy to see her husband alive. This is an excellent contrast of events, but it makes the story very interesting.

She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below, a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song that someone was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves. There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one above the other in the west facing her window (Woodlief 1).

Therefore, an open window is symbolic. It represents new opportunities and possibilities that she now had in her hands without anyone to stop her, and she refers to it as a new spring of life.

She knew that she was not in a position to bring her husband back to life.

Her feelings were mixed up. Deep inside her, she felt that she had been freed from living for another person.

She did not stop to ask if it were or were not a monstrous joy that held her… She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death, the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead (Sparknotes 1).

The author captured a marriage institution that was dominated by a man. This man, Mr. Mallard, did not treat his wife as she would like (the wife) at all times, only sometimes. This Cleary showed that she was peaceful even if her husband was dead. Only some sorrow because of the loss of his life but not of living without him. It seemed that she never felt the love for her husband.

And yet she had loved him sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this procession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being! (Woodlief 1).

How could a wife be peaceful at the death of her husband? Though people thought that she treasured her husband, Mr. Mallard, so much and was afraid that she would be stressed, she did not see much of the bitterness like she found her freedom. This reveals how women are oppressed in silence but never exposed due to other factors such as wealth, money, and probably outfits.

As much as wealth is essential, the characters Mr. and Mrs. Mallard despise the inner being. Their hearts were crying amid a physical smile: “Free! Body and soul free!”…Go away. I am not making myself ill.” No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window” (Woodlief 1).

In this excerpt, Mrs. Mallard knows what she is doing and believes that she is not harming herself. Instead, she knew that though the husband was important to her, marriage had made her a subject to him. This was not in a positive manner but was against her will. It seems she had done many things against her will, against herself, but to please her husband.

Mrs. Mallard’s character is therefore developed throughout this story in a short time and reveals many values that made her what she was. She is a woman with a big desire for freedom that was deprived by a man in marriage. She is very emotional because after seeing her freedom denied for the second time by her husband, who was mistaken to have died, she collapses and dies. The contrast is when the writer says, “She had died of heart disease…of the joy that kills” (Woodlief 1).

Mrs. Mallard was not able to handle the swings in her emotions, and this cost her life. Mr. Mallard was left probably mourning for his wife, whom he never treasured. He took her for granted and had to face the consequences. Oppressing a wife or another person causes a more significant loss to the oppressor. It is quite ironic that Mr. Mallard never knew that his presence killed his wife.

Sparknotes. The Story of an Hour. Sparknotes, 2011. Web.

Taibah. The Story of an Hour. Taibah English Forum, 2011. Web.

Woodlief. The story of an hour . VCU, 2011. Web.

Further Study: FAQ

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Story of an Hour Critical Analysis Essay." October 28, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/critical-analysis-of-the-story-of-an-hour/.

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General Education

Imagine a world where women are fighting for unprecedented rights, the economic climate is unpredictable, and new developments in technology are made every year. While this world might sound like the present day, it also describes America in the 1890s . 

It was in this world that author Kate Chopin wrote and lived, and many of the issues of the period are reflected in her short story, “The Story of an Hour.” Now, over a century later, the story remains one of Kate Chopin’s most well-known works and continues to shed light on the internal struggle of women who have been denied autonomy.

In this guide to Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” we’ll discuss:

• A brief history of Kate Chopin and America the 1890s
• “The Story of an Hour” summary
• Analysis of the key story elements in “The Story of an Hour,” including themes, characters, and symbols

By the end of this article, you’ll have an expert grasp on Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour.” So let’s get started!

“The Story of an Hour” Summary

If it’s been a little while since you’ve read Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” it can be hard to remember the important details. This section includes a quick recap, but you can find “The Story of an Hour” PDF and full version here . We recommend you read it again before diving into our analyses in the next section! 

For those who just need a refresher, here’s “The Story of an Hour” summary: 

Mrs. Louise Mallard is at home when her sister, Josephine, and her husband’s friend, Richards, come to tell her that her husband, Brently Mallard, has been killed in a railroad accident . Richards had been at the newspaper office when the news broke, and he takes Josephine with him to break the news to Louise since they’re afraid of aggravating her heart condition. Upon hearing the news of her husband’s death, Louise is grief-stricken, locks herself in her room, and weeps.

From here, the story shifts in tone. As Louise processes the news of her husband’s death, she realizes something wonderful and terrible at the same time: she is free . At first she’s scared to admit it, but Louise quickly finds peace and joy in her admission. She realizes that, although she will be sad about her husband (“she had loved him—sometimes,” Chopin writes), Louise is excited for the opportunity to live for herself. She keeps repeating the word “free” as she comes to terms with what her husband’s death means for her life. 

In the meantime, Josephine sits at Louise’s door, coaxing her to come out because she is worried about Louise’s heart condition. After praying that her life is long-lived, Louise agrees to come out. However, as she comes downstairs, the front door opens to reveal her husband, who had not been killed by the accident at all. Although Richards tries to keep Louise’s heart from shock by shielding her husband from view, Louise dies suddenly, which the doctors later attribute to “heart disease—of the joy that kills .”

Kate Chopin, the author of "The Story of an Hour," has become one of the most important American writers of the 19th century. 

The History of Kate Chopin and the 1890s

Before we move into “The Story of an Hour” analysis section, it’s helpful to know a little bit about Kate Chopin and the world she lived in. 

A Short Biography of Kate Chopin

Born in 1850 to wealthy Catholic parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Kate Chopin (originally Kate O’Flaherty) knew hardship from an early age. In 1855, Chopin lost her father, Thomas, when he passed away in a tragic and unexpected railroad accident. The events of this loss would stay with Kate for the rest of her life, eventually becoming the basis for “The Story of an Hour” nearly forty years later.

Chopin was well-educated throughout her childhood , reading voraciously and becoming fluent in French. Chopin was also very aware of the divide between the powerful and the oppressed in society at the time . She grew up during the U.S. Civil War, so she had first-hand knowledge of violence and slavery in the United States. 

Chopin was also exposed to non-traditional roles for women through her familial situation. Her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother chose to remain widows (rather than remarry) after their husbands died. Consequently, Chopin learned how important women’s independence could be, and that idea would permeate much of her writing later on. 

As Chopin grew older, she became known for her beauty and congeniality by society in St. Louis. She was married at the age of nineteen to Oscar Chopin, who came from a wealthy cotton-growing family. The couple moved to New Orleans, where they would start both a general store and a large family. (Chopin would give birth to seven children over the next nine years!) 

While Oscar adored his wife, he was less capable of running a business. Financial trouble forced the family to move around rural Louisiana. Unfortunately, Oscar would die of swamp fever in 1882 , leaving Chopin in heavy debt and with the responsibility of managing the family’s struggling businesses. 

After trying her hand at managing the property for a year, Chopin conceded to her mother’s requests to return with her children to St. Louis. Chopin’s mother died the year after. In order to support herself and her children, Kate began to write to support her family. 

Luckily, Chopin found immediate success as a writer. Many of her short stories and novels—including her most famous novel, The Awakening— dealt with life in Louisiana . She was also known as a fast and prolific writer, and by the end of the 1900s she had written over 100 stories, articles, and essays. 

Unfortunately, Chopin would pass away from a suspected cerebral hemorrhage in 1904, at the age of 54 . But Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and other writings have withstood the test of time. Her work has lived on, and she’s now recognized as one of the most important American writers of the 19th century. 

American life was undergoing significant change in the 19th century. Technology, culture, and even leisure activities were changing. 

American Life in the 1890s

“The Story of an Hour” was written and published in 1894, right as the 1800s were coming to a close. As the world moved into the new century, American life was also changing rapidly. 

For instance, t he workplace was changing drastically in the 1890s . Gone were the days where most people were expected to work at a trade or on a farm. Factory jobs brought on by industrialization made work more efficient, and many of these factory owners gradually implemented more humane treatment of their workers, giving them more leisure time than ever.

Though the country was in an economic recession at this time, technological changes like electric lighting and the popularization of radios bettered the daily lives of many people and allowed for the creation of new jobs. Notably, however, work was different for women . Working women as a whole were looked down upon by society, no matter why they found themselves in need of a job. 

Women who worked while they were married or pregnant were judged even more harshly. Women of Kate Chopin’s social rank were expected to not work at all , sometimes even delegating the responsibility of managing the house or child-rearing to maids or nannies. In the 1890s, working was only for lower class women who could not afford a life of leisure .

In reaction to this, the National American Woman Suffrage Association was created in 1890, which fought for women’s social and political rights. While Kate Chopin was not a formal member of the suffragette movements, she did believe that women should have greater freedoms as individuals and often talked about these ideas in her works, including in “The Story of an Hour.” 

Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" a short exploration of marriage and repression in America.

“The Story of an Hour” Analysis

Now that you have some important background information, it’s time to start analyzing “The Story of an Hour.”

This short story is filled with opposing forces . The themes, characters, and even symbols in the story are often equal, but opposite, of one another. Within “The Story of an Hour,” analysis of all of these elements reveals a deeper meaning.

“The Story of an Hour” Themes

A theme is a message explored in a piece of literature. Most stories have multiple themes, which is certainly the case in “The Story of an Hour.” Even though Chopin’s story is short, it discusses the thematic ideas of freedom, repression, and marriage. 

Keep reading for a discussion of the importance of each theme! 

Freedom and Repression

The most prevalent theme in Chopin’s story is the battle between freedom and “repression.” Simply put , repression happens when a person’s thoughts, feelings, or desires are being subdued. Repression can happen internally and externally. For example, if a person goes through a traumatic accident, they may (consciously or subconsciously) choose to repress the memory of the accident itself. Likewise, if a person has wants or needs that society finds unacceptable, society can work to repress that individual. Women in the 19th century were often victims of repression. They were supposed to be demure, gentle, and passive—which often went against women’s personal desires. 

Given this, it becomes apparent that Louise Mallard is the victim of social repression. Until the moment of her husband’s supposed death, Louise does not feel free . In their marriage, Louise is repressed. Readers see this in the fact that Brently is moving around in the outside world, while Louise is confined to her home. Brently uses railroad transportation on his own, walks into his house of his own accord, and has individual possessions in the form of his briefcase and umbrella. Brently is even free from the knowledge of the train wreck upon his return home. Louise, on the other hand, is stuck at home by virtue of her position as a woman and her heart condition. 

Here, Chopin draws a strong contrast between what it means to be free for men and women. While freedom is just part of what it means to be a man in America, freedom for women looks markedly different. Louise’s life is shaped by what society believes a woman should be and how a wife should behave. Once Louise’s husband “dies,” however, she sees a way where she can start claiming some of the more “masculine” freedoms for herself. Chopin shows how deeply important freedom is to the life of a woman when, in the end, it’s not the shock of her husband’s return of her husband that kills Louise, but rather the thought of losing her freedom again.

Marriage as a “The Story of an Hour” theme is more than just an idyllic life spent with a significant other. The Mallard’s marriage shows a reality of 1890s life that was familiar to many people. Marriage was a means of social control —that is to say, marriage helped keep women in check and secure men’s social and political power. While husbands were usually free to wander the world on their own, hold jobs, and make important family decisions, wives (at least those of the upper class) were expected to stay at home and be domestic. 

Marriage in Louise Mallard’s case has very little love. She sees her marriage as a life-long bond in which she feels trapped, which readers see when she confesses that she loved her husband only “sometimes.” More to the point, she describes her marriage as a “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.” In other words, Louise Mallard feels injustice in the expectation that her life is dictated by the will of her husband.

Like the story, the marriages Kate witnessed often ended in an early or unexpected death. The women of her family, including Kate herself, all survived their husbands and didn’t remarry. While history tells us that Kate Chopin was happy in her marriage, she was aware that many women weren’t. By showing a marriage that had been built on control and society’s expectations, Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” highlights the need for a world that respected women as valuable partners in marriage as well as capable individuals.

While this painting by Johann Georg Meyer wasn't specifically of Louise Mallard, "Young Woman Looking Through a Window" is a depiction of what Louise might have looked like as she realized her freedom.

"The Story of an Hour" Characters

The best stories have developed characters, which is the case in “The Story of an Hour,” too. Five characters make up the cast of “The Story of an Hour”:

Louise Mallard

Brently mallard.

• The doctor(s)

By exploring the details of each character, we can better understand their motivations, societal role, and purpose to the story.

From the opening sentence alone, we learn a lot about Louise Mallard. Chopin writes, “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.”

From that statement alone, we know that she is married, has a heart condition, and is likely to react strongly to bad news . We also know that the person who is sharing the bad news views Louise as delicate and sensitive. Throughout the next few paragraphs, we also learn that Louise is a housewife, which indicates that she would be part of the middle-to-upper class in the 1890s. Chopin also describes Louise’s appearance as “young,” “fair, calm face,” with lines of “strength.” These characteristics are not purely physical, but also bleed into her character throughout the story.

Louise’s personality is described as different from other women . While many women would be struck with the news in disbelief, Louise cries with “wild abandonment”—which shows how powerful her emotions are. Additionally, while other women would be content to mourn for longer, Louise quickly transitions from grief to joy about her husband’s passing.  

Ultimately, Chopin uses Louise’s character to show readers what a woman’s typical experience within marriage was in the 1890s. She uses Louise to criticize the oppressive and repressive nature of marriage, especially when Louise rejoices in her newfound freedom. 

Josephine is Louise’s sister . We never hear of Josephine’s last name or whether she is married or not. We do know that she has come with Richards, a friend of Brently’s, to break the news of his death to her sister. 

When Josephine tells Louise the bad news, she’s only able to tell Louise of Brently’s death in “veiled hints,” rather than telling her outright. Readers can interpret this as Josephine’s attempt at sparing Louise’s feelings. Josephine is especially worried about her sister’s heart condition, which we see in greater detail later as she warns Louise, “You will make yourself ill.” When Louise locks herself in her room, Josephine is desperate to make sure her sister is okay and begs Louise to let her in. 

Josephine is the key supporting character for Louise, helping her mourn, though she never knows that Louise found new freedom from her husband’s supposed death . But from Josephine’s actions and interactions with Louise, readers can accurately surmise that she cares for her sister (even if she’s unaware of how miserable Louise finds her life). 

Richards is another supporting character, though he is described as Brently’s friend, not Louise’s friend. It is Richards who finds out about Brently Mallard’s supposed death while at the newspaper office—he sees Brently’s name “leading the list of ‘killed.’” Richards’ main role in “The Story of an Hour” is to kick off the story’s plot. 

Additionally, Richard’s presence at the newspaper office suggests he’s a writer, editor, or otherwise employee of the newspaper (although Chopin leaves this to readers’ inferences). Richards takes enough care to double-check the news and to make sure that Brently’s likely dead. He also enlists Josephine’s help to break the news to Louise. He tries to get to Louise before a “less careful, less tender friend” can break the sad news to her, which suggests that he’s a thoughtful person in his own right. 

It’s also important to note is that Richards is aware of Louise’s heart condition, meaning that he knows Louise Mallard well enough to know of her health and how she is likely to bear grief. He appears again in the story at the very end, when he tries (and fails) to shield Brently from his wife’s view to prevent her heart from reacting badly. While Richards is a background character in the narrative, he demonstrates a high level of friendship, consideration, and care for Louise. 

Brently Mallard would have been riding in a train like this one when the accident supposedly occurred.

  Mr. Brently Mallard is the husband of the main character, Louise. We get few details about him, though readers do know he’s been on a train that has met with a serious accident. For the majority of the story, readers believe Brently Mallard is dead—though the end of “The Story of an Hour” reveals that he’s been alive all along. In fact, Brently doesn’t even know of the railroad tragedy when he arrives home “travel-stained.”

  Immediately after Louise hears the news of his death, she remembers him fondly. She remarks on his “kind, tender hands” and says that Brently “never looked save with love” upon her . It’s not so much Brently as it’s her marriage to him which oppresses Louise. While he apparently always loved Louise, Louise only “sometimes” loved Brently. She constantly felt that he “impose[d] a private will” upon her, as most husbands do their wives. And while she realizes that Brently likely did so without malice, she also realized that “a kind intention or a cruel intention” makes the repression “no less a crime.” 

Brently’s absence in the story does two things. First, it contrasts starkly with Louise’s life of illness and confinement. Second, Brently’s absence allows Louise to imagine a life of freedom outside of the confines of marriage , which gives her hope. In fact, when he appears alive and well (and dashes Louise’s hopes of freedom), she passes away. 

The Doctor(s)

Though the mention of them is brief, the final sentence of the story is striking. Chopin writes, “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease—of the joy that kills.” Just as she had no freedom in life, her liberation from the death of her husband is told as a joy that killed her.

In life as in death, the truth of Louise Mallard is never known. Everything the readers know about her delight in her newfound freedom happens in Louise’s own mind; she never gets the chance to share her secret joy with anyone else.

Consequently, the ending of the story is double-sided. If the doctors are to be believed, Louise Mallard was happy to see her husband, and her heart betrayed her. And outwardly, no one has any reason to suspect otherwise. Her reaction is that of a dutiful, delicate wife who couldn’t bear the shock of her husband returned from the grave. 

But readers can infer that Louise Mallard died of the grief of a freedom she never had , then found, then lost once more. Readers can interpret Louise’s death as her experience of true grief in the story—that for her ideal life, briefly realized then snatched away. 

In "The Story of an Hour," the appearance of hearts symbolize both repression and hope.

“The Story of an Hour” Symbolism and Motifs

  Symbols are any object, word, or other element that appear in the story and have additional meanings beyond. Motifs are elements from a story that gain meaning from being repeated throughout the narrative. The line between symbols and motifs is often hazy, but authors use both to help communicate their ideas and themes. 

  In “The Story of an Hour,” symbolism is everywhere, but the three major symbols present in the story are: 

•   The heart
• The house and the outdoors
• Joy and sorrow

Heart disease, referred to as a “heart condition” within the text, opens and closes the text. The disease is the initial cause for everyone’s concern, since Louise’s condition makes her delicate. Later, heart disease causes Louise’s death upon Brently’s safe return. In this case, Louise’s ailing heart has symbolic value because it suggests to readers that her life has left her heartbroken. When she believes she’s finally found freedom, Louise prays for a long life...when just the day before, she’d “had thought with a shudder that life might be long.”

As Louise realizes her freedom, it’s almost as if her heart sparks back to life. Chopin writes, “Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously...she was striving to beat it back...Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.” These words suggest that, with her newfound freedom, the symptoms of her heart disease have lifted. Readers can surmise that Louise’s diseased heart is the result of being repressed, and hope brings her heart back to life. 

  Unfortunately, when Brently comes back, so does Louise’s heart disease. And, although her death is attributed to joy, the return of her (both symbolic and literal) heart disease kills her in the end. 

The House and the Outdoors

The second set of symbols are Louise’s house and the world she can see outside of her window. Chopin contrasts these two symbolic images to help readers better understand how marriage and repression have affected Louise. 

First of all, Louise is confined to the home—both within the story and in general. For her, however, her home isn’t a place to relax and feel comfortable. It’s more like a prison cell. All of the descriptions of the house reinforce the idea that it’s closed off and inescapable . For instance, the front door is locked when Mr. Mallard returns home. When Mrs. Mallard is overcome with grief, she goes deeper inside her house and locks herself in her room.

In that room, however, Mrs. Mallard takes note of the outdoors by looking out of her window.  Even in her momentary grief, she describes the “open square before her house” and “the new spring life.” The outdoors symbolize freedom in the story, so it’s no surprise that she realizes her newfound freedom as she looks out her window. Everything about the outside is free, beautiful, open, inviting, and pleasant...a stark contrast from the sadness inside the house . 

The house and its differences from outdoors serve as one of many symbols for how Louise feels about her marriage: barred from a world of independence.

Joy and Sorrow

  Finally, joy and sorrow are motifs that come at unexpected times throughout “The Story of an Hour.” Chopin juxtaposes joy and sorrow to highlight how tragedy releases Louise from her sorrow and gives her a joyous hope for the future. 

At first, sorrow appears as Louise mourns the death of her husband. Yet, in just a few paragraphs, she finds joy in the event as she discovers a life of her own. Though Louise is able to see that feeling joy at such an event is “monstrous,” she continues to revel in her happiness. 

  It is later that, when others expect her to be joyful, Josephine lets out a “piercing cry,” and Louise dies. Doctors interpret this as “the joy that kills,” but more likely it’s a sorrow that kills. The reversal of the “appropriate” feelings at each event reveals how counterintuitive the “self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being” is to the surrounding culture. This paradox reveals something staggering about Louise’s married life: she is so unhappy with her situation that grief gives her hope...and she dies when that hope is taken away. 

Key Takeaways: Kate Chopin's “The Story of an Hour” 

Analyzing Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” takes time and careful thought despite the shortness of the story. The story is open to multiple interpretations and has a lot to reveal about women in the 1890s, and many of the story’s themes, characters, and symbols critique women’s marriage roles during the period .

There’s a lot to dig through when it comes to “The Story of an Hour” analysis. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just remember a few things :

• Events from Kate Chopin’s life and from social changes in the 1890s provided a strong basis for the story.
• Mrs. Louise Mallard’s heart condition, house, and feelings represent deeper meanings in the narrative.
• Louise goes from a state of repression, to freedom, and then back to repression, and the thought alone is enough to kill her.

Remembering the key plot points, themes, characters, and symbols will help you write any essay or participate in any discussion. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” has much more to uncover, so read it again, ask questions, and start exploring the story beyond the page!

What’s Next? 

You may have found your way to this article because analyzing literature can be tricky to master. But like any skill, you can improve with practice! First, make sure you have the right tools for the job by learning about literary elements. Start by mastering the 9 elements in every piece of literature , then dig into our element-specific guides (like this one on imagery and this one on personification .)

Another good way to start practicing your analytical skills is to read through additional expert guides like this one. Literary guides can help show you what to look for and explain why certain details are important. You can start with our analysis of Dylan Thomas’ poem, “Do not go gentle into that good night.” We also have longer guides on other words like The Great Gatsby and The Crucible , too.

If you’re preparing to take the AP Literature exam, it’s even more important that you’re able to quickly and accurately analyze a text . Don’t worry, though: we’ve got tons of helpful material for you. First, check out this overview of the AP Literature exam . Once you have a handle on the test, you can start practicing the multiple choice questions , and even take a few full-length practice tests . Oh, and make sure you’re ready for the essay portion of the test by checking out our AP Literature reading list!

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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The Story of an Hour

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The Story of an Hour

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Table of Contents

What is the main idea of The Story of an Hour?

The main idea of “The Story of An Hour” is freedom and its importance for an individual. Louise Mallard is happily married and has a very loving husband. However, she does not have freedom which she only gets after she comes to know that her husband is dead. And when he turns out to be alive, she dies of grief.

What is the message of The Story of an Hour?

The message of The Story of an Hour is that freedom is the basic and fundamental right of every individual on earth. Gender should not be a reason to prohibit a person from freedom.

What happens at the end of the story The Story of an Hour?

In the end, the husband comes back home alive. However, his wife dies out of grief and despair.

Why does Mrs Mallard die at the end of the story?

She dies at the end of the story because of the grief of losing freedom which she got some time before. The fear of getting back to restrictions shocks her and she dies.

Why was Mrs. Mallard happy her husband died?

Mrs Mallard was happy because she tasted freedom and liberty for the first time since her marriage. She thought that her married life was enjoyable. However, when she tasted freedom, she found it much better. This is why she was happy at her husband’s death.

Did Mrs Mallard love her husband?

Yes, she loved her husband. She was a loving and caring wife. However, she was also subjected to domestic slavery and restrictions which she finds gone after coming to know about the death of her husband.

What are the major conflicts in The Story of An Hour?

The major conflict is the role of institution of marriage. Mrs. Mallard is not happy with her husband though she pretends to be. She is even not aware of it. Because of marriage, she is subjected to restrictions and domestic slavery. She lacks freedom. She is quite pleased after coming to know that her husband has died. It also shows the condition of woman in the American society at the time the author has written this short story.

What is the irony in the story of an hour?

There are a lot of ironies in the story. First, when Louise’s husband dies, she feels happy instead of sorrowful. And when he comes back alive, she is devasted and dies out of despair instead of getting happy.

What does “The Joy That Kills” mean?

The phrase “The Joy That Kills” means that Mrs. Mallard is not free and thus not happy with her married life. The freedom which she gets for a brief time is lost as soon as her husband comes home.

Why is Mrs. Mallard death an example of situational irony?

Situational Irony occurs when something happens which is totally different from what is expected. Mrs. Mallard is a good example of situational irony because she feels happy and joyful after coming to know that her husband has died (instead of weeping and mourning). However, as soon as he comes back alive, she dies out of sorrow and despair (though she was supposed to be happy).

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"The Story Of An Hour": Eight Questions Essays Examples

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Literature , Mallard , Politics , Freedom , Element , Husband , Bachelor's Degree , The Story of An Hour

Published: 09/20/2022

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After reading Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour", I was very surprised by the tragic ending. I did not expect such a brutal plot twist at the end of the story. However, I realized the story was short, therefore I suspected that it would have a dramatic climax for an ending. 1. The setting of "The Story of an Hour" is in a house (primarily the bedroom), evidently a rather large one that overlooks a square. 2. The major theme of this story is that life is not what it seems to be on the outside. Externally, the Mallard couple may have appeared to be happily-married, yet upon learning of Mr. Mallard's death, Mrs. Mallard feels relieved and liberated. Thus, internal feeling do not always mirror our external lives. Internal feelings and desires are often repressed. 3. The major ironic literary element found in the story is dramatic. Thus, when Mrs. Mallard sees her husband enter the house, she collapses and dies suddenly of a heart attack -- an event that the reader was not expecting, an event that is both tragic and ill-fated. 4. The foreshadowing element found in the story is in the very first paragraph that relates that Mrs. Mallard has a heart condition. 5. The major conflict in the story is internal, as it involves conflicted feelings of Mrs. Mallard upon hearing of her husband's unexpected death in a railroad accident. While she is bereaved, she is later spontaneously overcome by a feeling of freedom, freedom from having to be possessed by a another person for life. 6. This story is told from Mrs. Mallard's point of view, as the reflections and insights are completely hers, and hers alone. 7. I would characterize Mrs. Mallard as a round character because she changes psychologically throughout the story, and dies tragically and unexpectedly at the end of the story.

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Essay Questions from The Story of an Hour 3

Essay questions (the story of an hour by kate chopin), mrs. mallard is described as descending the stairs “like a goddess of victory.” in what ways does she feel herself victorious.

Mrs Mallard has been quite enjoying her time sitting alone in the room and watching the view outside the window. When Jospehine repeatedly implores her to open the room through the key hole believing that she was going to kill herself out of sorrow, Mrs Mallard opens the door half-heartedly. She slowly walks out of the room, and comes down the stairs like a Goddess descending from the heavens. She had been resting in paradise while she was alone, planning how she was going to spend the rest of her life. The author compares her with a goddess of victory because she bore a satisfaction in her heart that is felt after having found victory. For the first time had she felt such contentment in her heart. It was like a war had ended in her life and she had emerged the winner in her game. She is feeling victorious because she would not have to act like the wife of a man she only half loved. She was no more bound by the shackles every wife is. Being a widow was not her pain; instead she was pleased that she would be free to live her life like she wants.

The last line of the story is this: “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy that kills.” In what ways is this an ironic statement? What is gained by having the doctors make such a statement rather than putting it in the mouths of Josephine or Richards?

Mrs Mallard is dead and even the doctors are not aware of what killed her. They predict that she must have died of too much joy because she had a heart condition. Chopin shows how even science has failed before the social traditions and customs. Every wife is expected to be overjoyed to know that her husband has escaped death. The doctors too think the same. They too cannot understand what underlies Mrs Mallard’s heart condition. The author has used the doctors instead of Josephine and Richards to deepen the sarcasm in the story. In an age of scientific thinking people adhered to old norms and customs.  Even the doctors are not an exception. The situation is both ironic and comic because on the one side, it is not the truth and on the other no one finds out the truth in Mrs Mallard’s heart. It just dies with her.

 What view of marriage does the story present? The story was published in 1894; does it only represent attitudes toward marriage in the nineteenth century, or could it equally apply to attitudes about marriage today?

The view of marriage that the story presents is not that of marriage as a bond, but marriage as bondage. In the nineteenth century, the society was largely patriarchal and the women were expected to behave like their husband’s shadow and follow their wish and will. When Mrs Mallard gets the news of her husband’s death, she feels like she has been released from bondage. Society and people’s attitude towards marriage has changed a lot since then. The situation has changed but not very much. Except for the women that are well educated and belong to the upper class, those who are not self-dependent, still lead a similar life as in the nineteenth century.  Marriage is not bondage anymore because divorces have become common, but the irony related with marriage is still the same. The male partner still comes first. Women are more empowered in the 21 st century and even law is there to help them but for the society’s mindset to change completely, it might still take ages.

If this is, in some sense, a story about a symbolic journey, where does Mrs. Mallard “travel”?

Mrs Mallard is on a symbolical journey to a different world where her soul can find eternal peace and liberty. She has been yearning for liberty and love. For an hour she has transitioned to this world where she finds solace and takes a fresh breath of freedom.  This symbolical journey means a transition from bondage to liberty. As a wife she has been leading a bounded life where she has had to live under her husband’s control and per his will. Now, that her husband is dead she will enjoy the rest seasons of her life in freedom. Her journey also represents a transition to safe and free existence. However, the irony is that for a woman to find such freedom in life was not possible in the 19th century. She transitions to another world where soul is as free as she wants.

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Related Essays on The Story of An Hour

Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" is a short story that explores the internal conflict of the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard, and her pursuit of personal freedom. The story is set during the late 19th century, a time when societal [...]

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It may be hard to imagine today that there was a time when the word “obey” in the wedding vow for a bride was not considered to be a problem. On the contrary it was considered to be proper, especially in light of biblical authority that would seem to authorize such notions. “The Story of an Hour”-or “The Dream of an Hour” as it was titled originally-was produced at a time when many established concepts were being threatened to be uprooted; today the succeeding ideas are just as deeply embedded in societal values.

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It is however well appreciated that before the zeitgeist at any given begins to switch directions, many must be labeled as eccentrics and later heralded as great thinkers. As Bertrand Russell in his own time very eloquently said, one should not fear to be eccentric in opinion as every opinion accepted today was once eccentric. Can Chopin be said to be a little early with her ideas? Did she know that this particular work of hers would not be accorded the deserved attention for another six decades after she wrote it? To answer these questions this discussion will proceed first by identifying the ideas within the work itself and how they corresponded with the awakening voice of dissent during that time. It would then be discussed whether Chopin’s own personal experiences had anything to do with “The Story of an Hour”.

One cursory perusal of the story would reveal that Mrs. Mallard-the central character as she might be called-is torn between grief at the death of her husband and elation at being free. This is so at least initially before she seems to be overpowered with elation as the reality of what has happened starts to sink in. Of the many key points that might be extracted from the story these would be significant: A healthy marriage was something to be cherished; it might be considered dishonorable to be divorced or without a husband; it was generally accepted that wives needed the protection of their husbands; love between husband and wife was not a necessity but a working and functioning relationship certainly was.

All of these factors can be seen to be deeply ingrained societal values towards the end of the nineteenth century. This was a time when the second wave of the feminist movement was building up, the first having recently subsided. This was when the beliefs on origins of life and the truth of religion were beginning to be shaken. From the more educated and sometimes aristocratic circles and avalanche of writings would spring up that would register the frustration of people who seemed to ‘know better’ since they had discovered the ‘truth’. From the less privileged quarters there was often resignation and a quite, private, personal disbelief that sometimes caused the utterance of a comment or two.

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The issue was that hardly any dissenting voice was feminine, not because women found nothing to disagree with, but because they had not empowered themselves for the task. “The Story of an Hour” can be said to be the product of such circumstances, written to express the indecision of a woman who wanted to explore bigger horizons but who conventionally had little to complain about in life. Indeed this seems to be the main theme of the story, whereby Mrs. Mallard was expected to be suicidal at the news of her husband’s death. This resonates clearly from the start of the story where the news is carefully broken to her due to her heart disease and later when she is asked to unlock the room for her own safety. What nobody seems to realize is how Mrs. Mallard might actually welcome the fact that her husband is no longer around. Indeed even today, the very thought might seem morbid and Mrs. Mallard can be clearly seen to be fighting off the thought so she can grieve like a dutiful wife. However, morbid it may not be when coming from the pen of the author who sees more than just a working marriage relationship and a protective and often loving husband.

The author saw everything from unequal pay and voting rights to the general sub ordinance a woman was expected to go through in society. One can almost feel a quite contempt for the whole system that gave way to a text that was a few decades earlier than its time. It is here that the discussion will move to any personal experiences of Chopin’s that might be seen to have triggered her writings using the themes she did. Having been married at an early age, Chopin had six children and a husband who’s business did not do very well, forcing them to move to Cloutierville. Four years later Chopin had lost both her husband and her mother and her contempt for life may be seen to have sprung up from a continuous string of disappointments that ultimately materialized in her literary works not being accepted and published.

Chopin only took up writing later on in her life and found other avenues of channeling her grief, disappointment and contempt, of which flirting after the death of her husband is well known. It may not be wrong to deduce that Chopin failed to carry on her late husband’s business because she was a woman and as such it may not have been possible for her to embark on a successful commercial enterprise with six kids to look after. It is perhaps here-surrounded by the Creole culture-that Chopin found she was bound; bound by the need of her children, bound by the financial needs of her household, stuck with a business she may not have had any interest in and left alone to deal with the situation. The frustration may be seen to stem from the inability of the world around her recognize her as a worthy substitute to run her husband’s business, while she could opt for nothing better as long as she had children to take care of.

Relief was provided by her mother who impressed upon her once more to relocate to St. Louis where at least finances would not be a problem. It may well be seen that by then, Chopin had already had sufficient experience and time to absorb all around her and form her perceptions about it. This coupled with a marvelous ability to put life on paper later gave way to her works of art before us today. However, is it possible that Chopin is still not fully understood today in her works; her bitterness from her own experiences not interpreted to the full extent even today-translated in accordance with what we believe? What is the probability of the doctor making the same mistake along with everyone else upon Mrs. Mallard’s death? What was explained away as ‘joy that kills’ could perhaps have been the ‘joy that suddenly plummeted’ and thereby caused death?

Toth, Emily. “Reviews the essay’ The Shadows of the First Biographer: The Case of Kate Chopin.’ Southern Review 26 (1990).

The essay provides the researcher with an insight into the personal life of Chopin, allowing a glance at her personal experiences. The usage was considered necessary as it allows for a recognition of personal experiences that might have influences and caused the author to produce the work they did. This was one of the two primary aspects the essay was based on.

Buhle, Mari Jo. Women and American Socialism, 1870-1920. Urbana: U of Illinois P, 1981.

Reference to this work was necessary to understand what the women in America were going through and what caused them to insist upon their own rights. This marks the general shift of the zeitgeist to a point where women were able to eventually empower themselves and demand equal rights. The essay needed a backing of material that would allow a grasp of what it was that was wrong when it came to women’s rights.

Culley, Margaret, ed. The Awakening: An Authoritative Text Context Criticism.

One of the greatest works of the author in consideration is The Awakening which shares much with The Story of an Hour. It was therefore important to refer to valid contextual criticism to grasp what might also stand in the case of the short story at hand. As intended the reference provided material that allowed for the researcher to mark similarities between the author’s approach in both her works and therefore analyze them in a similar manner within the essay.

Humm, Maggie. 1978. The Dictionary of Feminist Theory. Columbus: Ohio State University Press, p. 251

Reference to the dictionary was made simply to identify between the different ‘waves’ of feminist movements to provide better background for the essay. Not only did this help with terminology but also with backdrop information that helped identify and relate the author’s feelings to the circumstances prevalent at her time.

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Guest Essay

What Sentencing Could Look Like if Trump Is Found Guilty

By Norman L. Eisen

Mr. Eisen is the author of “Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial.”

For all the attention to and debate over the unfolding trial of Donald Trump in Manhattan, there has been surprisingly little of it paid to a key element: its possible outcome and, specifically, the prospect that a former and potentially future president could be sentenced to prison time.

The case — brought by Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, against Mr. Trump — represents the first time in our nation’s history that a former president is a defendant in a criminal trial. As such, it has generated lots of debate about the case’s legal strength and integrity, as well as its potential impact on Mr. Trump’s efforts to win back the White House.

A review of thousands of cases in New York that charged the same felony suggests something striking: If Mr. Trump is found guilty, incarceration is an actual possibility. It’s not certain, of course, but it is plausible.

Jury selection has begun, and it’s not too soon to talk about what the possibility of a sentence, including a prison sentence, would look like for Mr. Trump, for the election and for the country — including what would happen if he is re-elected.

The case focuses on alleged interference in the 2016 election, which consisted of a hush-money payment Michael Cohen, the former president’s fixer at the time, made in 2016 to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump. Mr. Bragg is arguing that the cover-up cheated voters of the chance to fully assess Mr. Trump’s candidacy.

This may be the first criminal trial of a former president in American history, but if convicted, Mr. Trump’s fate is likely to be determined by the same core factors that guide the sentencing of every criminal defendant in New York State Court.

Comparable cases. The first factor is the base line against which judges measure all sentences: how other defendants have been treated for similar offenses. My research encompassed almost 10,000 cases of felony falsifying business records that have been prosecuted across the state of New York since 2015. Over a similar period, the Manhattan D.A. has charged over 400 of these cases . In roughly the first year of Mr. Bragg’s tenure, his team alone filed 166 felony counts for falsifying business records against 34 people or companies.

Contrary to claims that there will be no sentence of incarceration for falsifying business records, when a felony conviction involves serious misconduct, defendants can be sentenced to some prison time. My analysis of the most recent data indicates that approximately one in 10 cases in which the most serious charge at arraignment is falsifying business records in the first degree and in which the court ultimately imposes a sentence, results in a term of imprisonment.

To be clear, these cases generally differ from Mr. Trump’s case in one important respect: They typically involve additional charges besides just falsifying records. That clearly complicates what we might expect if Mr. Trump is convicted.

Nevertheless, there are many previous cases involving falsifying business records along with other charges where the conduct was less serious than is alleged against Mr. Trump and prison time was imposed. For instance, Richard Luthmann was accused of attempting to deceive voters — in his case, impersonating New York political figures on social media in an attempt to influence campaigns. He pleaded guilty to three counts of falsifying business records in the first degree (as well as to other charges). He received a sentence of incarceration on the felony falsification counts (although the sentence was not solely attributable to the plea).

A defendant in another case was accused of stealing in excess of $50,000 from her employer and, like in this case, falsifying one or more invoices as part of the scheme. She was indicted on a single grand larceny charge and ultimately pleaded guilty to one felony count of business record falsification for a false invoice of just under $10,000. She received 364 days in prison.

To be sure, for a typical first-time offender charged only with run-of-the-mill business record falsification, a prison sentence would be unlikely. On the other hand, Mr. Trump is being prosecuted for 34 counts of conduct that might have changed the course of American history.

Seriousness of the crime. Mr. Bragg alleges that Mr. Trump concealed critical information from voters (paying hush money to suppress an extramarital relationship) that could have harmed his campaign, particularly if it came to light after the revelation of another scandal — the “Access Hollywood” tape . If proved, that could be seen not just as unfortunate personal judgment but also, as Justice Juan Merchan has described it, an attempt “to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election.”

History and character. To date, Mr. Trump has been unrepentant about the events alleged in this case. There is every reason to believe that will not change even if he is convicted, and lack of remorse is a negative at sentencing. Justice Merchan’s evaluation of Mr. Trump’s history and character may also be informed by the other judgments against him, including Justice Arthur Engoron’s ruling that Mr. Trump engaged in repeated and persistent business fraud, a jury finding that he sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll and a related defamation verdict by a second jury.

Justice Merchan may also weigh the fact that Mr. Trump has been repeatedly held in contempt , warned , fined and gagged by state and federal judges. That includes for statements he made that exposed witnesses, individuals in the judicial system and their families to danger. More recently, Mr. Trump made personal attacks on Justice Merchan’s daughter, resulting in an extension of the gag order in the case. He now stands accused of violating it again by commenting on witnesses.

What this all suggests is that a term of imprisonment for Mr. Trump, while far from certain for a former president, is not off the table. If he receives a sentence of incarceration, perhaps the likeliest term is six months, although he could face up to four years, particularly if Mr. Trump chooses to testify, as he said he intends to do , and the judge believes he lied on the stand . Probation is also available, as are more flexible approaches like a sentence of spending every weekend in jail for a year.

We will probably know what the judge will do within 30 to 60 days of the end of the trial, which could run into mid-June. If there is a conviction, that would mean a late summer or early fall sentencing.

Justice Merchan would have to wrestle in the middle of an election year with the potential impact of sentencing a former president and current candidate.

If Mr. Trump is sentenced to a period of incarceration, the reaction of the American public will probably be as polarized as our divided electorate itself. Yet as some polls suggest — with the caveat that we should always be cautious of polls early in the race posing hypothetical questions — many key swing state voters said they would not vote for a felon.

If Mr. Trump is convicted and then loses the presidential election, he will probably be granted bail, pending an appeal, which will take about a year. That means if any appeals are unsuccessful, he will most likely have to serve any sentence starting sometime next year. He will be sequestered with his Secret Service protection; if it is less than a year, probably in Rikers Island. His protective detail will probably be his main company, since Mr. Trump will surely be isolated from other inmates for his safety.

If Mr. Trump wins the presidential election, he can’t pardon himself because it is a state case. He will be likely to order the Justice Department to challenge his sentence, and department opinions have concluded that a sitting president could not be imprisoned, since that would prevent the president from fulfilling the constitutional duties of the office. The courts have never had to address the question, but they could well agree with the Justice Department.

So if Mr. Trump is convicted and sentenced to a period of incarceration, its ultimate significance is probably this: When the American people go to the polls in November, they will be voting on whether Mr. Trump should be held accountable for his original election interference.

What questions do you have about Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial so far?

Please submit them below. Our trial experts will respond to a selection of readers in a future piece.

Norman L. Eisen investigated the 2016 voter deception allegations as counsel for the first impeachment and trial of Donald Trump and is the author of “Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial.”

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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