Story of an Hour - Assignment Example

Full Expressions Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” narrates the dramatic last hour of the main character who was afflicted with a heart problem. The short story is a very clever revelation of a theme that could have been considered outrageous during the time of its writing. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, women were still perceived to be home-bound whose role was to keep the house clean, attend to the needs of the husband and children and going against such norm would attract raised eyebrows and undesirable words.

The author intelligently brought out the unspoken issues of women during that time and made her readers have a glimpse of what is going on in the feminine brains and hearts. The narrative is just so full of figures of speech, one has to really spend time meditating on the symbolisms to fully understand what the story is all about. Although during the initial reading, the reader could understand the events in the story however, it still requires an in-depth analysis for one to really ‘feel and understand’ the story behind the story.

Selina Jamil thinks “The Story of an Hour” is an expression of emotions which she strongly supports through the symbolisms in the story. For instance, Mrs. Mallard’s heart trouble is perceived as an emotional trouble rather than a physical one (Jamil). While other women might easily be been open to accept their fate as being the housekeepers and even husband and children keepers, it is interesting to note that not all men are created equal and Mrs. Mallard is not the common type who would just be satisfied with her share in life.

She was the woman who loved the outdoors and whose dreams are not bound within the four walls of her house rather are far and beyond what her eyes can see as it was then revealed as she was alone in her room thinking about how she would be living after her husband’s burial. Aside from the information directly unveiled in the story, symbolisms help to further picture the desires of the main character. The open window that meets her eyes as she opens her room tells a lot about Mrs. Mallard. The room itself is a picture of her private, unspoken thoughts and desires.

Entering it without letting anyone follow her could paint the picture of Louise’s secrets that are not meant to be revealed rather are hers alone. The comfortable, roomy armchair is a representation of the ease she can have with her thoughts and herself in the privacy of her room (Lorcher) and the open window symbolizes the window to herself, her heart. This could be referred to how she would look deep into her heart and come to the realization that she is “free, body and soul” then continue on to think about the years she would be spending without anyone telling her what and what not to do rather would go wherever she wished and do whatever she wanted to.

Although the thought crossed her mind that such feelings are not quite right, she have seen the realities of what was in her heart, the desire to be free from the bondage of her marriage where she drew the “elixir of life from that open window”, her heart’s longings. The aforementioned symbolisms are not just a work of a genius but it could also in general, represent the silenced voices of women. It could be imagined that a female writer during that time, expressing her thoughts which could be misconstrued to have hints of rebellion, could only resort to literary terms.

ReferencesJamil, S. Selena. Emotions in The Story of an Hour. Prince George’s Community College. Heldref Publications. 2009. Web. January 24, 2012. .Lorcher, Trent. Irony and Symbols in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin. Bright Hub Education. December 21, 2011. Web. January 24, 2012. .