The Story of an Hour
"The Story of an Hour" was definitely an interesting read filled with mystery, emotion, and a fascinating ending.
It began with the introduction of Mrs. Mallard, a sickly woman, and wife of Brently Mallard whom allegedly was pronounced dead due to a railroad incident earlier that day. Shocked and confused Mrs. Mallard, or Louise, isolated herself in an effort to compose her emotions after receiving such devastating news. What began as a bout of grief resulted in sudden thoughts and feelings of self-reflection and liberation. The procession of ideas based on her new found freedom was later shattered when Mr. Mallard haphazardly walked through the front door, shocking everyone present especially his wife. Unfortunately, his appearance caused for her sick heart to fail and she would not have the opportunity to experience exemption.
Just from reading the first paragraph of this story I thought it would be a regular emotional fiction about a grieving woman and her dead husband and how she does not have the will to move forward in life. But as I read on I realized that there were hidden clues that made me over analyze what really was happening. The way Chopin discretely revealed Mrs. Mallard's feelings was unforeseen. For example, when her emotions were relatable to things that were open like "patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds", which in my opinion represented her gloominess starting to clear up. Or when she stated that Mrs. Mallard sat "facing an open window". It may not seem significant but it will make a person question why the window was open and not closed? Another unimaginable was when Chopin described that "she loved him--sometimes", one could imagine the type of relationship that they had and although it is stated in the text that they were truly in love it's still something to consider reflecting on her thoughts of finally having an "open window".
I have read articles dating back to World War II era when women were known and preferred to be housewives, unable to experience the premeditated liberated feeling Mrs. Mallard felt after hearing her husband was dead. It was common for woman to cater to a man and even today there are mothers who prefer to stay at home, hence the title "stay-at-home mom". Although it so more of a choice today, back then they didn't have much of a choice. I relate this to what Mrs. Mallard may have experience which is the reason why she was so ecstatic to move forward.
I love stories with a good ending and found this story to have a funny ending.
It began with the introduction of Mrs. Mallard, a sickly woman, and wife of Brently Mallard whom allegedly was pronounced dead due to a railroad incident earlier that day. Shocked and confused Mrs. Mallard, or Louise, isolated herself in an effort to compose her emotions after receiving such devastating news. What began as a bout of grief resulted in sudden thoughts and feelings of self-reflection and liberation. The procession of ideas based on her new found freedom was later shattered when Mr. Mallard haphazardly walked through the front door, shocking everyone present especially his wife. Unfortunately, his appearance caused for her sick heart to fail and she would not have the opportunity to experience exemption.
Just from reading the first paragraph of this story I thought it would be a regular emotional fiction about a grieving woman and her dead husband and how she does not have the will to move forward in life. But as I read on I realized that there were hidden clues that made me over analyze what really was happening. The way Chopin discretely revealed Mrs. Mallard's feelings was unforeseen. For example, when her emotions were relatable to things that were open like "patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds", which in my opinion represented her gloominess starting to clear up. Or when she stated that Mrs. Mallard sat "facing an open window". It may not seem significant but it will make a person question why the window was open and not closed? Another unimaginable was when Chopin described that "she loved him--sometimes", one could imagine the type of relationship that they had and although it is stated in the text that they were truly in love it's still something to consider reflecting on her thoughts of finally having an "open window".
I have read articles dating back to World War II era when women were known and preferred to be housewives, unable to experience the premeditated liberated feeling Mrs. Mallard felt after hearing her husband was dead. It was common for woman to cater to a man and even today there are mothers who prefer to stay at home, hence the title "stay-at-home mom". Although it so more of a choice today, back then they didn't have much of a choice. I relate this to what Mrs. Mallard may have experience which is the reason why she was so ecstatic to move forward.
I love stories with a good ending and found this story to have a funny ending.
also ironic of course: death (the husband's) becomes an opening, the window to freedom and new life, though the death turns out to be false, and the freedom finally denied; the final irony of Louise's "freedom" found only in her real death...
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was interesting, and just like you said it was filled with mystery. Mrs. Mallards emotions were expressed through imagery and when I read a description I was wondering what exactly was the author hinting at. The ending was definitely not what I expected.
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