An analysis of Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour and Anton Chekhovs The Proposal - Essay Example

? COMPARE AND CONTRAST TWO LITERARY WORKS Compare and Contrast Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and Anton Chekhov’s “The Proposal” Written in 1894, Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” portrays the tragic death of Louise Mallard in very puzzling circumstances whereas Anton Chekhov’s “The Proposal” sometimes translated as “The Marriage Proposal” first performed in 1890 exposes the problematic relationship between Evan and Natalie. Chopin, an American writer, and Chekhov, a Russian playwright, both address the issue of marriage in their different works. Even though Chopin and Chekhov portray the same theme, they deal with different aspects of the matter and the genres and styles are dissimilar as well. Indeed, Chopin’s short story uses much irony to expose the complex circumstances surrounding Louise’ death while Chekhov’s play employs satire to express the ambiguities surrounding Evan’s marriage proposal. Chopin’s short story “The Story of an Hour” foregrounds the complexities of marriage that involve unpredictable factors. In fact, the marriage between Louise and Brentley Mallard constitutes a real puzzle for readers who struggle to understand the circumstances that led to Mrs. Mallard’s strange behavior. The story opens with the news of Brently’s supposed death and the warning about Louise’s heart condition. The narrator’s introduction of Mrs. Mallard and the reference to her health issues prepare the reader to the unfolding of the story: “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” (Chopin, 2010). This sentence sums up the whole story and informs readers of Brently Mallard’s death; however, what follows comes as a surprise because instead of mourning her husband’s death, Louise seems to enjoy it. Even though she cried when she heard the news, right after that she started to plan her future. Commenting on Mrs. Mallard’s reaction this article informs: “If immediately after learning of the death of her husband Louise had gone through a rapid logical process leading to a celebration of her total freedom, she might have seemed to be a hard, calculating, and therefore unsympathetic woman” (Deneau, 2003). Even if this critic is trying to explain her attitude, not much time has really elapsed between the time she learnt the information and the time she started to enjoy. This strange attitude of a wife towards her husband’s death expresses the complexities of marriage and readers’ inability to comprehend the relationship between Louise and Brently. Similarly, Chekhov’s play, “The Proposal” also addresses the issue of marriage through the proposal between Evan and Natalie. The play exposes an ordinary marriage proposal that turns out to be very problematic. Despite Evan’s strong commitment to propose to Natalie, external issues invite themselves and cause arguments that delay the proposal. Indeed, Evan’s referral to a piece of land between their properties creates the conflict that urges Evan to argue: “But you can see from the documents, honoured Natalya Stepanovna. Oxen Meadows, it’s true, were once the subject of dispute, but now everybody knows that they are mine. There’s nothing to argue about” (Chekhov, 2010). This intrusion of domestic or economic matters into sentimental issues reveals the mentality of the higher classes and their connection to land. Neither Evan nor Natalie would let the argument go for the sake of their proposal and future marriage, but their pride and love for land urge each of them to claim ownership of the property, thereby endangering their proposal and relationship. The first difference between Chopin’s short story and Chekhov’s play resides in the genre each of the authors chooses to convey the messages. Indeed, “The Story of an Hour” is an hour long short story that depicts the unusual death of Louise. Chopin chooses this specific genre to convey a significant message about the hidden secrets in a marriage. For instance, Louise’s attitude about her husband’s death represents a true puzzle for readers. Her ephemeral mourning gives way to enjoyment when she realizes the opportunity of freedom her husband’s death represents for her. She may not have considered herself a victim before nor did she anticipate or even plan her husband’s death; however, now that he is dead she decides to take fully advantage of her time. Analyzing Louise’ sudden change the narrator argues: “There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air” (Chopin, 2010). This strange feeling generates the new reflection she has about her life and engages her in an attempt to give her existence a new meaning. This attitude is, indeed, ironic for someone who has just lost her husband. This critic gives a supernatural explanation to Louise’ new experience: “In a limited space, and without the assistance of a psychological vocabulary, Chopin may have been forced to rely on the indefinite, the unidentified, which, as best we can judge, is some powerful force, something supernatural, something beyond the realm of mundane experience or the rule of logic” (Deneau, 2003). This unexpected behavior puzzles many readers who fail to comprehend the ironic feature Chopin gives the story. On the other hand, Chekhov’s “The Proposal” is a play, especially a one-act farce that exposes mundane obstacles that hindered the marriage proposal. Chekhov employs drama, a live audience during that time period to draw people’s attention on the way material issues or certain privileges have a great influence on marriages. This critic reflects: “In The Proposal, the play is set in the Russian countryside in 1891. Thus, that time and place would affect the values held by the characters. A playwright often leaves hints or states certain facts; Chekhov simply wrote ‘a drawing room in Chubokov’s country house’” (Naylor, 2010). This portrayal of current issues allows writers to convey meaningful messages and sensitize people about different matters involving their lives. The live performance even makes drama an effective medium to bring awareness because the audience can identify with the actors and, therefore, perceive their messages easily. This statement confirms: “I believe whole heartedly that plays are meant to be experienced, not read. So, while one can read a play and research it and imagine it, it is not truly a theatrical piece until it is being performed. Dialogue is present tense action occurring between two characters to get a response out of each other” (Naylor, 2010). Therefore, through this choice of a play, Chekhov seeks a live connection between the actors and their audience for a better understanding of his point. Another important difference between Chopin’s short story and Chekhov’s play is reflected through their styles of writing. Indeed, Chopin uses irony efficiently in order to make meaning in the amazing occurrences in the Mallard household. From the information about Louise Mallard’s heart condition, the false news about Brently Mallard’s death, Louise’ emotional reaction to the news and to her own death, various amazing matters have happened to effectively display the irony Chopin employs. Louise’ reflections about her life reveal much about her personality and the aspiration for freedom she had internalized. This surprising reaction foregrounds the inner feelings she had experienced throughout the years. In fact, it seems strange for anybody to enjoy her husband’s death, especially on the same day the incident happens. This critic exposes the irony in the text: “‘The Story of an Hour’ can be read along with Zora Neale Hurston's ‘Spunk’ because both use irony and show how women allow men to circumscribe their lives. Readers see choices that are clear and available to a character that the character cannot see at all” (Cecil, 2004). This comparison fits perfectly and reflects the issues women face in their lives. Even though readers may never know the reason behind Mrs. Mallard’s joy, her reaction draws the attention to the relationship she had with her husband. Besides, her attempt to hide her enjoyment to Josephine, her sister, and Richards, her husband’s friend, who truly worry about her heart condition, is amazing. Her refusal to open the door, letting them believe that she is really afflicted demonstrates her intention to hide this guilty feeling. This critic tries to give a reason to this emotion: “When she hears the news of her husband's death, Mrs. Mallard's obliviousness to the beauty of life breaks down under the powerful impact of emotion. Until this moment, Mrs. Mallard hardly thinks it worthwhile to continue her existence” (Jamil, 2009). It is really ironic that Mr. Mallard’s death brings a rebirth to Louise’s life. The contrast between life and death is very powerful, and it takes her husband’s death for Mrs. Mallard to start really living. Having carefully planned her future life without Brently Mallard, the deception of his coming back costs her life even though the doctors seem to think that she dies of the joy to see him alive. The narrator informs: “When the doctors came they said she died of heart disease—of joy that kills” (Chopin, 2010). This sentence is the most ironic in the story because the doctors got it all wrong, but they did not know anything about Mrs. Mallard’s feelings. Despite the tremendous attempts to prevent the heart attack, it ended up happening. Indeed, Louise ended up dying when he saw her husband. On the other hand, Chekhov chooses a satire to express the way ordinary matters become obstacles to fundamental issues. Through Evan and Natalia’s arguments over land or dogs, he demonstrates and even denounces people’s tendency to foreground mundane subjects over crucial aspects of life. Evan and Natalia’s example incites a thorough reflection about how people supposed to be engaged and live the rest of their lives together could jeopardize such a project for other concerns that do not have anything to do with that. This critic argues: “Lomov arrives dressed very formally to ask for the hand of Natalya in marriage. When she is left alone with him so he can make his proposal first one ridiculous argument starts and another until poor Lomov apparently has a seizure and dies. When he suddenly revives Chubukov quickly drinks to their engagement before they can fall into another fight” (McNabb, 2003). This succession of futile arguments that severely affected Evan’s health and almost killed him expresses the satire contained in Chekhov’s portrayal of the events. The father’s precipitation to give the blessings right after Evan regained consciousness also exposes his fear of another accident or argument that may endanger the marriage. Chopin’s short story “The Story of an Hour” and Chekhov’s play “The Proposal” share the same theme about marriage. Both literary works foreground issues affecting marriages in one way or another. However, they also have differences reflected in the genres, the styles but also in the nature of the problem depicted. Indeed, both the marriage between Louise and Brently Mallard and the proposal between Evan and Natalie deal with unusual circumstances about these relationships. These strange occurrences represent real puzzles for readers who struggle to understand these different events. Nevertheless, Chopin and Chekhov choose different genres and styles to expose the issues they portray. In fact, if Chopin employs a short story to portray the gloomy events preceding Louise’s death, Chekhov uses a play to depict the foolish arguments that almost compromise Evan’s proposal to Natalie. Moreover, Chopin’s use of irony exposes the strangeness of the events while Chekhov’s satire highlights the ridiculous attitude of Evan and Natalie. References Cecil, K. (2004). Walking a maze of views to the center: Teaching point of view. English Journal, 93(5), 54-59. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com. Chekhov, A. (2010). The Proposal. (J. West, Trans.) (Original work published 1890). In R.W. Clugston (Ed.), Journey into literature. San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved fromhttps://content.ashford.edu/books/AUENG125.10.2 Chopin, K. (2010). The story of an hour. In R.W. Clugston (Ed.), Journey into literature. San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved fromhttps://content.ashford.edu/books/AUENG125.10.2 Deneau, D. P. (2003). Chopin's ‘The Story of an Hour.’ The Explicator, 61(4), 210-213. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com. Jamil, S. (2009). Emotions in ‘The Story of an Hour.’ The Explicator 67(3),215-220. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com. McNabb, Jim. (2003). The “Vaudevilles” of Chekhov. Study Guide. National Arts Centre. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com. Naylor, B. (2010). One play: two centuries: The Proposal. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Theatre and Speech. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com Read More