An Hour of Freedom by Geoff Hughes

Kate Chopin’s “The Story Of An Hour” examines a woman’s reaction to her husband’s death. The story was written in the nineteenth century, when highly restrictive gender role denied women of living life the way they wanted. Chopin presents a situation where a woman is not only dumb-founded with her husband’s death, but celebrates her loss. The protagonist, Mrs. Mallard, has a very bizarre response to the death of her husband, who in the end is alive and well, far from the accident he was said to have been a part of.

Mrs. Mallard, was married to a working man. Being that the story was written in the nineteenth century, Mr. Mallard was obviously the bread winner, while Mrs. Mallard stayed at home. This may have been either because of her heart problems, or because she was not allowed to work. When Josephine and Richards plan to break the news of her husband‘s death to Louise, they believe it should be brought to her “as gently as possible,” (516, Chopin) thinking it would make her upset and possibly more ill.

Kate Chopin in 1894

Mallard

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“She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment” (516). describes her first reactions, however without notice on what was to come. “And yet she had loved him-sometimes. Often she had not.” (517). This statement illustrates her relationship with Mr. Mallard. She may have been confused whether she really cared he was gone or not. “A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that brief moment of illumination.” (517). It seems Mrs. Mallard was starting to wonder if her husband’s death was worth the tears and heartache.

Her reaction to her husband’s death could be described as abnormal. “When the storm of grief had spent itself she went to her room alone. No one would follow her.” (516). At first, she seems to take the death as any woman or man would be expected to. She locks herself in a room where no one can see her reaction or stop her from causing any kind of harm to herself. When she states “she did not stop to ask if it were a monstrous joy that held her,” (517), it became clear Mrs. Mallard was beginning to rethink the death of her husband. She started to foreshadow her life and what it would be like without her husband, a man who has robbed her of freedom. “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.” (517). “What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!” (517). Instead of dreading her loss, Mrs. Mallard planned what she was going to do in the future with her new freedom.

Mrs. Mallard would not look at the bad, but only the good that was yet to come. As she sat in her room after receiving the news, she plunges into a variety of thoughts and feelings. “There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.” (516). This statement depicts her as feeling powerless, or having nothing to live for. I’m sure the chair was to symbolizes a sense of security and comfort despite Mr. Mallard’s death. The open window was to express a connection between Louise and the world. After sitting for a while, she gathers her thoughts and regroups herself. “It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought.”(516). “But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air.” (517). Mrs. Mallard was imagining a sense of happiness, or freedom. It was a feeling she had long felt, and she accepted it. “The tops of trees that were all aquiver with new spring life” (516) and “the delicious breath of rain was in the air” (516) reveal Mrs. Mallard was starting to realize and sense things she never has, at least not for a long time. The statement “patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds” (516) symbolize a sign of future freedom and independence, additionally detailing the growing excitement of her husbands death.

There are moments when she is afraid or too confused to think about anything. It seems reality would prevent her from feeling the way she wanted when Chopin states “she was striving to beat it back with her will.” (517). Mrs. Mallard would have to be dependant on society’s rules, determining her thoughts of freedom to be incorrect. “A long procession of years that would belong to her absolutely.” (517). “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.” (517). These acknowledge she was unhappy with life or even marriage. She could not have her own opinion or show her own will. She realizes she is now entitled to an opinion, causing her to be overjoyed with freedom.

Just as Mrs. Mallard seems to be free, something happens to change everything in the story. “Spring days, and summer days, all sorts of days that would be her own” (517) and “goddess of victory” (517) put Louise at high, allowing her to believe a good life was just around the corner. This may also be considered the climax of the story, leaving the reader to suppose she will live the rest of her life alone and free. As Louise leaves her room, Mr. Mallard arrives through the door. “He enters composedly carrying is grip-sack and umbrella” (517) proves Mr. Mallard had no idea about the accident and his name being on the death list. Mrs. Mallard falls down the stairs after the sight of her husband, killing her. Chopin says Mrs. Mallard died of “the joy that kills.” (517). This statement depicts the thoughts of the doctor who analyzes her death. The doctor believes Louise died of the excitement of seeing her husband alive. Although this may be true, it could additionally be favored that she had chosen to die rather than to live under her husband’s will again, after the experience of freedom and independence.

Mrs. Mallard’s only happiness in life lasted her an hour. It was spent in an armchair, looking out the window, reminiscing the death of her husband and the freedom she was to have in the future. This was the story of an hour, an hour of happiness which ends fatal.

Kennedy, X. J., and Dana Gioia. Literature. 11th ed. Perfection Learning, 2001. Print.

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