“The Story of an Hour”

“The Story of an Hour” By Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin • She is an American writer of short stories and novels. • Chopin wrote about issues concerning women long before the feminist movement. • She had a free independent spirit. Chopin did not care much about the strict rules of society. • Just like her protagonist, Chopin’s husband died unexpectedly. She mourned and felt his loss; but no sooner did she embrace her independence.

Analysis • Plot (closed): In one hour, we meet Louise Mallard who learns about the death of her husband from a train crash. She is sad and in despair; but no sooner does she realize her freedom. However, her “supposedly” dead husband shows up suddenly and she dies out of shock (not joy). • Characters: Louise Mallard (major) Brently Mallard, Josephine, Richards (minor) • Setting: • Place: The Mallard’s house • Time: An hour (around 1894)

. • Themes: • The hidden joy of independence. • Time (in such a short period, so much can happen) • Words and Communication (the way news is delivered is more important than the news itself) • Death (the supposed death of her husband made her alive and cheerful; but when he turned out to be alive, she died.) • Narration: Third person omniscient (the narrator takes the reader into the mind and feelings of Louise)

. • Structure: The shortness of the story and the shortness of the paragraphs fits the subject of the story. The whole story takes place in an hour. • Style: Poetic because of: • The repetition of words: “free, free, free!” (pg 2) • The repetition of phrases & sentences: “life might be long” (pg 3) • Alliteration: “the sounds, the scents, the color” (pg 2) • Tone: Sadness mixed with joy and fear. She is sad at first, but then she is afraid to be happy: “something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully.”

. • Exposition: The news of the death of the husband in a train crash. • Rising action: Louise cries and grieves the death of her husband. • Climax: She starts to feel joy about her own independence: “free, free, free!” • Falling action: Josephine knocks on her door and Louise steps out of her room, feeling triumph. • Dénouement: The “dead” husband shows up and Louise dies.

. • Conflict: Internal conflict (within Louise). She is relieved that her husband died, but she is afraid to feel that joy. • Foreshadow: The mention of “heart trouble” in the beginning foreshadows her later death of heart disease. • Irony: • Situational irony: the “dead” husband shows up in the end. • Dramatic irony: The doctors in the story claim that Louise died out of joy; while the readers know she died out of shock and distress.

. • Symbol: • The open widow symbolizes her new gained freedom after the death of her husband. • The comfortable roomy armchair symbolizes her new position in life. • Imagery: • Visual: “patches of blue sky” • Auditory: “sparrows twittering” / “peddler was crying” • Olfactory: “The delicious breath of rain” • Kinesthetic: “they descended the stairs”

Important Quotations • “And yet she had loved him … … impulse of her being!” (pg. 2) • Some one was opening … … of joy that kills.” (pg. 3)

“The Story of an Hour”