Bedford book: Chopin's The Story of an Hour - Essay Example

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a great book which has its own overtones regarding a concrete theme. It is all about the counter position of a woman to a man. The logic of getting overjoyed when your husband is dead cannot but be linked with some feminist approach by the author. In this respect the paper is driven by the idea of anti-patriarchal dominance and more freedom for a woman within the family. First and foremost, it is vital to admit Mrs. Mallard’s first reaction on the news that her husband is dead.

Chopin illustrates it in the following way: “She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment” (748). It was something new for her, as she did not fully realize her freedom at the moment. On the other hand, it was a kind of her soul convulsion stating that her life does not depend on a man’s will anymore. Mrs. Mallard seems to make a sigh of relief “facing the open window” as the symbol of freedom itself (Chopin 748). Hence, her dream came true in a spontaneous manner. On the other hand, Mrs.

Mallard is a justification of an uncovered woman’s joy after years of a man’s expansion of her body, soul, and spirit. It turns out to be that a more positive evaluation comes instead of an expected severe heartache supposed to touch on her. However, she is waiting fearfully for particular transformations in her soul which is likely to grow over and over again. Chopin illustrates Mallard’s joy thus: “But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air” (749).

Hence, there is nothing to stop this feeling deep within her soul, as she has already perceived the exact meaning of a female freedom. Finally, the author shows the core problem of why women and men are different in their right for personal happiness. Chopin makes a good conclusion on this thought in hand, namely: “There would be no 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” (749).

Moreover, Mrs. Mallard came to conclusion that no man would disturb her life anymore, as she used to live for herself (Chopin 749). Keeping this in mind, the main heroine is a symbol of feminism being currently central. To conclude, the idea of anti-patriarchal dominance and more freedom for a woman within the family is showed off in the book by Kate Chopin. It is a live discussion on why women behave inhumane when they are supposed to be in grief. Hence, the whole story is a justification of that a man and a woman becoming one in family deserve their personal freedom therefore.

This is a paradox of love. Works Cited Chopin, Kate. Kate Chopin: Complete Novels and Stories: At Fault / Bayou Folk / A Night in Acadie / The Awakening / Uncollected Stories (Library of America). Chicago, IL: Library of America , 2002.