Summary:
The "Story of the Hour," by Kate Chopin, narrates a brief chapter of an unhappily married woman's life, who, for unknown reasons, has stayed in a repressive relationship for many years. Mrs. Mallard repressed her feelings. But freedom arrives with an unexpected turn of events.
Free! Body and Soul Free!
The "Story of the Hour," by Kate Chopin, narrates a brief chapter of an unhappily married woman's life, who, for unknown reasons, has stayed in a repressive relationship for many years. But freedom arrives with an unexpected turn of events.
Mrs. Mallard repressed her feelings for many years. This is why, when she is given the news of her husband's death, she only cries to her sister, Josephine. However, after being alone in her room, she began to experience a sense of relief and imagines a new life with no one controlling her.
Her feelings were uncontainable and overwhelming. She felt scared, guilty, sad and relieved. What she felt the most deeply, though, was "Free! Body and Soul...Free!"
How bad can a marriage be to get to the point of experiencing relief at the news of your own spouse's death"
My experience in a past relationship never made me wish for his death, but it was unhealthy enough to make me feel deeply unhappy. I ask myself to this day why I stayed in it for so long. Through it, I learned to not let anyone treat me that way again. Something in me could not take the emotional abuse any longer and I was able to end it.
In contrast to my personal situation, Mrs. Mallard stayed in her oppressive relationship. Something kept her in it. Maybe the fear of being alone held her for so many unhappy years. Divorce really was not an option for most people back then, especially women.
This was the opportunity to be freed from this marriage. Was this it? Did she just not want to be married any longer? Or perhaps it was the emotional abuse and unloving relationship that brought these raw emotions out when she learned of her husband's death.
I sometimes wonder why there are so many divorces in the present day compared to 100 years ago when this story was written. It is certainly not like old times. Maybe it has to do with us "women." We are realizing we can be alone and still reach satisfying levels of self worth. This era definitely has stronger women who can say no to controlling and unhealthy relationships.
Mrs. Mallard decided to come out of her room and start enjoying her newfound freedom. But when Mr. Mallard appeared at the front door, the shock was too much for her sick and weakened heart to handle.
All told, this short story focuses on the effects of staying in an unhealthy relationship. Mrs. Mallard's short-lived freedom was described so well in the story that I felt as though I was sharing her complex thoughts, feelings and sensations as she sat in her room. The complete circle of emotions Mrs. Mallard went through in such a short time was what ultimately made this dynamic story a success.
Works Cited
Chapin, Kate. "The Story of an Hour." Literature and the Writing Process. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan, Susan X. Day and Robert Funk. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice, 2005. 188-90.
This is the complete article, containing 502 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
