The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

Context – Women in the Victorian period

 A woman’s role was to be a supportive wife, dutiful daughter, and caring mother.
 The public sphere of society was controlled by male authority while the woman’s
role was purely placed within the domestic setting.
 Once married, women lost ownership of their wages and all physical property.
 Could not vote.
 In the event of a divorce, would lose all their property to men.
 Once married, the only way for a woman to reclaim property was through
widowhood.

Context – Kate Chopin

 From Louisiana, USA; born Katherine O’Flaherty in 1851
 Father was killed in a railroad disaster.
 He left behind no will and no provision for his wife and family. Eventually Eliza,
his wife, got herself and her children named as Thomas’s official heirs.
 Upon the death of her father, Kate’s mother brought her home from boarding
school where she had been since the age of five.
 Kate, therefore, grew up in an atypical home of the nineteenth century where her
mother was the head of the household.
 Her husband’s death left Kate in debt by about $42,000. She eventually sold their
business and moved back to St. Louis to live with her mother who financially
supported her.
 She started to write to make money. Was not accepted by society due to the
‘offensive’ subject matter of her writing (race, marriage, sexuality, feminism).

The Story of an Hour was originally published in Vogue Magazine in 1894. What
might have inspired Chopin to write this story? Based on the story, what do you think
her opinion on marriage might have been?

Reading in depth
Lines 1-8 What are our initial impressions of Mrs Mallard? Consider:

 Her health. Could there be a symbolic significance of her condition?

 How the other characters treat her. What do we learn about the way she is
viewed by others?
 How might we expect her to react to her husband’s death based on our initial
impression?

In the beginning of "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, our first impression of
Mrs. Mallard is that she has a delicate health condition and is seen as needing
special care. She might react strongly to her husband's death, but the poem
suggests there could be an unexpected reaction from her. The poem mentions her
"heart trouble," which could mean she is physically and emotionally fragile. It may
also symbolize the restrictions she feels in her life. When Mrs. Mallard is informed
about her husband's death, her sister Josephine and her husband's friend Richard
are cautious in delivering the news to her, considering her supposed fragility. They
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are concerned about how she will handle the shock and are gentle with her. This
shows that Mrs. Mallard is seen as someone who needs delicate handling, possibly
due to her health condition. Based on our initial impression, we might expect Mrs.
Mallard to have a strong reaction to her husband's death. Given her fragile health
and others' concern, it is reasonable to assume she will be devastated by the news.
However, the poem also suggests her inner life and the possibility of a different
response when it mentions that "she did not hear the story as many women have
heard the same." This hints at the potential for a more complex emotional reaction
from Mrs. Mallard.

Lines 9-15 How far is Mrs Mallard’s response in line with societal expectations?
Consider:

 How is she compared to other women?

 Is her “wild abandonment” in line with how a woman would be expected to
conduct herself?
 What is significant about the metaphor “storm”?
 What might the open window symbolise?
 Consider the adjective “comfortable”. How does this contrast with the gravity
of the situation?
 What does the personification of her “physical exhaustion” reveal about her
response to her husband’s death?

In lines 9-15 of "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, Mrs. Mallard's response
challenges societal expectations. She displays intense emotions, embraces freedom,
and experiences physical exhaustion. This contrasts with the traditional
expectations placed upon women during that time. Mrs. Mallard's reaction stands
out from how other women usually respond to news of their husband's death. The
poem states that she doesn't react like "many women have heard the same,"
suggesting her response is different from what is expected. Her emotional state is
described as "wild abandonment," which implies intense emotions and freedom not
typically associated with how women should behave. Women were expected to be
composed and restrained in expressing their feelings. The metaphor of a "storm"
used to describe her emotions emphasizes their intensity and unpredictability. The
open window symbolizes an opportunity for freedom and escaping the constraints
of her marriage and societal expectations. It represents a new beginning and a
sense of liberation. The adjective "comfortable" used to describe her armchair
contrasts with the seriousness of her husband's death, highlighting the irony and
paradox in her emotional state. Although her husband's death is somber, she finds
comfort and relief in the prospect of newfound freedom. The personification of her
"physical exhaustion" reveals the toll her response has taken on her. It suggests
that the intense emotions have drained her physically, showing the profound
impact of her husband's death and her emotional journey.

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Lines 16-21 How is pathetic fallacy used to offer a sense of hope and
excitement? Consider how Chopin uses the following techniques
together:

 Pathetic fallacy
 Foreshadowing
 Symbolism
 Contrast

In lines 16-21 of "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, pathetic fallacy is used to
give human emotions to nature or objects. The storm is described as "monstrous,"
"coming closer," and "reaching out its long arms." This makes the storm seem like a
person, creating a feeling of anticipation and excitement that reflects Mrs.
Mallard's emotions. The storm represents the intensity of her feelings and the
upcoming changes in her life. Foreshadowing is used to give hints about the future.
The storm foreshadows something significant that will happen, creating
anticipation and preparing us for the transformative experience Mrs. Mallard will
go through. Symbolism is used to convey deeper meanings. The storm symbolizes
Mrs. Mallard's inner turmoil and desire for freedom. When the storm approaches
and reaches out its arms, it represents her suppressed desires being released and
her upcoming liberation. Contrast is used to increase the feeling of hope and
excitement. The storm's description as "monstrous" and "reaching out its long
arms" contrasts with the previous depiction of Mrs. Mallard's comfortable armchair
and the seriousness of her husband's death. This intensifies the anticipation and
suggests that something extraordinary and transformative is about to happen. By
using these techniques, Chopin creates a vivid scene that gives us a sense of hope
and excitement. The pathetic fallacy of the approaching storm, along with
foreshadowing, symbolism, and contrast, work together to create anticipation for
the significant changes that will unfold in Mrs. Mallard's life.

Lines 35-44 Epiphany: a moment of sudden and great revelation or realisation.

Consider:

 What is Mrs Mallard’s epiphany? Can you choose a quotation that represents
this moment of realisation?
 How does Mrs Mallard change after her epiphany? Find quotations that
highlight the contrast in her character development
 How did she feel about her husband and what kind of man was he? Find
quotations that indicate her feelings towards her husband.

In lines 35-44 of "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, Mrs. Mallard's epiphany
brings a big change in her character. She realizes she's free from her marriage and
society's expectations. This makes her think about her feelings towards her
husband. Her epiphany is shown when she says, "There would be no one to live for
her during those coming years; she would live for herself" (line 40). This quote
shows that she understands she doesn't have to depend on her husband anymore
and can focus on herself and what she wants. After her epiphany, Mrs. Mallard

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changes a lot. There's a quote that shows this change: "She breathed a quick
prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a
shudder that life might be long" (lines 41-42). This quote contrasts her previous
fear of a long life with her new hope and excitement for it. Mrs. Mallard's feelings
towards her husband are complicated. There's a quote that shows this: "And yet
she had loved him—sometimes. Often she had not" (lines 37-38). It means that her
feelings for him were up and down. Sometimes she loved him, but often she didn't.
This shows that their relationship was complicated and had its ups and downs. Mrs.
Mallard's epiphany changes her and sets the stage for what happens next in the
story.

Lines 45-53 To what extent can Chopin’s The Story of an Hour be considered a
feminist story? Consider both sides of the argument:

On one side, some people believe it is feminist because it explores female liberation
and challenges the constraints of marriage. The main character, Mrs. Mallard,
experiences a moment of freedom and self-discovery after learning about her
husband's death. This challenges the traditional role of women as subservient to
their husbands and suggests that women should have the freedom to live for
themselves. Chopin focuses on Mrs. Mallard's personal desires and her rejection of
societal expectations, which can be seen as a feminist critique of patriarchal norms.

On the other side, there are arguments that the story is not explicitly feminist. Mrs.
Mallard's liberation is short-lived as she discovers that her husband is actually
alive. This implies that societal norms and expectations overpower a woman's
desire for independence. Additionally, the male characters in the story are
portrayed as controlling and dominant, which reinforces traditional gender roles.
This portrayal may be seen as perpetuating gender stereotypes instead of
challenging them.

In summary, "The Story of an Hour" can be seen as somewhat feminist because it

explores female liberation and critiques patriarchal norms. However, its
limitations, such as the sudden reversal of Mrs. Mallard's freedom and the
reinforcement of gender stereotypes through male characters, may lead some to
argue that it is not entirely feminist. The interpretation of the story's feminist
elements depends on individual perspectives and how it is analyzed.

Lines 54-66 ‘Free! Body and soul free!’ Consider:

 What is the effect of including direct speech at this point in the story?
 What is the significance of her being described using the simile ‘like a goddess
of Victory’?

Including direct speech at this point in the story has a strong effect. When Mrs.
Mallard exclaims, "Free! Body and soul free!" (line 56), it shows her emotions
directly and makes her newfound freedom even more powerful. We can see her
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liberation firsthand through this direct speech, which makes her feeling of
empowerment even stronger. Describing Mrs. Mallard as "like a goddess of
Victory" (line 63) is significant because it elevates her character and shows her
triumph over societal constraints. The simile compares her to a powerful and
triumphant figure, highlighting her strength, independence, and the importance of
her realization. By comparing her to a goddess of Victory, Chopin symbolizes her
liberation as a big achievement and emphasizes her newfound freedom and control
over her own life. In summary, the use of direct speech adds immediacy and
emotion to Mrs. Mallard's realization, while describing her as a goddess of Victory
emphasizes her triumph and the significance of her newfound freedom. These
literary techniques make this moment in the story impactful and meaningful.

Lines 67-73 The plot twist – ‘the joy that kills’. Consider:

 What is the plot twist in The Story of an Hour?

 What is the effect of this plot twist?
 Explain how the ending of the story could be classed as dramatic irony.
 How does the use of this type of irony help reiterate Chopin’s message about
marriage?

In lines 67-73 of "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, there's a big surprise in
the plot. It happens when Mrs. Mallard's husband, who was thought to be dead,
comes back home unharmed. This twist is unexpected and changes everything we
thought we knew about the story. The effect of this plot twist is huge. It completely
shifts the direction of the story and makes us see Mrs. Mallard's newfound freedom
in a different light. The joy and happiness she felt when she thought her husband
had died is quickly replaced by shock, disappointment, and a tragic end. This twist
challenges the idea that women can easily break free from societal expectations
and shows that there are still limitations within marriage. The ending of the story
can be called dramatic irony because we, as the readers, know what Mrs. Mallard
truly feels while the other characters don't. While she is excited about her
newfound independence, the others think she's overwhelmed with grief. This
difference between what we know and what the characters know creates irony, as
the true cause of Mrs. Mallard's joy and eventual death is hidden from everyone
else. The use of dramatic irony helps reinforce Chopin's message about marriage. It
shows the gap between societal expectations and individual desires, emphasizing
how traditional gender roles can be suffocating and restrict women's freedom. By
using this type of irony, Chopin highlights the importance of recognizing women's
autonomy and the consequences of denying them their independence. To
summarize, the plot twist in "The Story of an Hour" happens when Mrs. Mallard's
husband returns, contradicting our expectations. This twist has a big impact,
challenging our views on women's freedom and the limitations of marriage. The
ending of the story is an example of dramatic irony, where we know Mrs. Mallard's
true feelings while the characters in the story remain unaware. This irony helps
reinforce Chopin's message about marriage and the need to respect women's
autonomy.

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