The Spiritual and Physical Awakening
Kate Chopin's The Story of An Hour is an intriguing work that leaves the reader wondering whether Louis Mallard's awakening was spiritual or physical. Many critics like to pick one side of the argument and stick to it, however the reader must realize that it is a combination of the two. In his essay Chopin's The Story of an Hour, Daniel P. Deneau, a decorated literary critic, suggests some possible interpretations of the story. Deneau points out many different examples through out the story to show how Louis Mallard's awakening is both spiritual and physical.
Deneau presents the question whether Louise is "a normal understandable, sympathetic woman or is she an egocentric, selfish monster." Even though celebrating the death of one's husband is evil and devilish, the way she does it makes her a sympathetic character. Deneau explains that there is a spiritual force that is responsible for Louise's emotions.
Kate Chopin in 1894
Photoportrait of writer Kate Chopin
English: Underwater photograph of a woman plunging...He also argues that "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 hard, calculating, and therefore unsympathetic." Chopin makes Mrs. Mallard a sympathetic woman by making her awakening seem forced and uncontrollable.
Deneau calls attention to the fact that this awakening can be related to a rape. Mrs. Mallard is said to have tried to "beat it back with all her will." This "sexual experienceâ¦at first seemsâ¦like a terrifying rape, but one that evolves into something sensually stimulating and relaxing, and, of course, spiritually illuminating." Louis feels the physical change that occurs, "her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body." This is all part of the physical change that takes place within...