The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed Berkove considers what life actually has to offer for people like Louise when constricted of freedom. Her joy turns to shock at the sight of her husband and she dies as a result. a quick prayer that life might be long. “The Story of an Hour” was written by Kate Chopin in 1984. She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression Despite its brevity, there's a lot of meaning to uncover. When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped Web. "The Story of An Hour" Kate Chopin (1894) Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death. In 1984, director Tina Rathbone released a film adaptation of the story titled The Joy That Kills. Instead of having enough time to think about and process the death of her husband, it is thrust upon Mrs. Mallard, in its entirety, followed within minutes by the shock of seeing him alive. Mr. Mallard was often away from home on business trips to provide for his wife. It was later reprinted in St. Louis Life on January 5, 1895, as "The Story of an Hour". cry; at Richards' quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife. It was first published in Vogue (the same magazine that is sold today) on December 6, 1894, under the title “The Dream of an Hour.” It was reprinted in St. Louis Life on January 5, 1895, with two changes … However, in this story an hour seems like a lifetime. "Louise, open the door! If you have not yet read it, it is only a couple pages long, and I implore you to do so! They conclude that Mrs. Mallard is an ungrateful and unfaithful wife. Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhold, will make yourself ill. What are you doing, Louise? Though she bore no animosity towards her husband, the implications of his death include a new sense of freedom for Louise. He stood amazed at Josephine's piercing Kate Chopin “The Story of an Hour”” The Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin, Characters, Setting. who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack Her fancy was running riot along those days ahead of her. Her husband's friend Richards [citation needed], In a 2013 article, Jeremy Foote, a researcher at Purdue University, argues that "The Story of an Hour" can be read as a commentary and warning about technology—specifically the railroad and the telegraph. Louise reacts with immediate grief and heads to her room where she gradually comes to the realization that she is happy that her husband has died. Louise Mallard: She is the wife of Brently Mallard, a railroad worker from 1894. She arose at length and opened the door to her sister's importunities. With Mitch Levine. It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. Although Mrs. Mallard initially feels fear when she hears of her husband's death, the strength of the emotion is so powerful that Mrs. Mallard actually feels joy (because she can realize her newfound freedoms). Many critics argue that she died from seeing her husband alive or her heart disease. Jamil argues that Mrs. Mallard was "[oblivious] to the beauty of life" due to her marriage. This shows how her life would change and that she is now a new person, removed from the repressed life she faced before. She did not stop to ask if it were or were not a monstrous joy that held Berkove also points out that Louise puts love after her own self-assertion and how it is peculiar a married person would think like this. [citation needed], In an article written in 2004, Mark Cunningham argues that Louise Mallard's death was not caused because of her excitement or her sadness of her husband's passing. was in the air. “The Story of an Hour” is Kate Chopin’s short story about the thoughts of a woman after she is told that her husband has died in an accident. Analysis "The Story Of An Hour" by Kate Chopin. Richards: He is Brently Mallard's friend and was the one to learn of Brently's death and inform Josephine, Louise's sister, about it.[13]. Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death. It is a cleverly woven story of how unimaginably life can change in the space of an hour for unsuspecting individuals. The alone time that Louise had in the house made her less close to her husband, and made her want her independence. "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin is one of the most frequently anthologized short stories. and that there is no society were she will have a place.[8]. The short story "The Story Of An Hour", by Kate Chopin, uses realism as a literary style. Directed by Bradley Pontecore. And yet she had loved him--sometimes. She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. Works Cited. In this specific story, the ending will blow you away! "The Story of an Hour" is a short story written by Kate Chopin on April 19, 1894. joy that kills. This story was written in the time where women were unequal with men; through the themes presented it is equally important to know that these events might be a cycle and thus warns us to never let it happen again. Only after Louise starts to feel overjoyed with her new freedom is when he returns home not knowing he was believed to be dead and then Louise dies from "the joy that kills". Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. He proposes that since she had "unrealistic expectations of absolute freedom" and "dissatisfaction with the best life has to offer" the only other option for Louise was death. At just over 1,000 words, it's a very quick read. [10] When it comes to the topic of the female awakening, Tseng contributes the main character's awakening to a phenomenon by the name of "Jouissance". In a 2020 article, Cihan Yazgı provides a different perspective on why Chopin had to let Louise Mallard die at the end and analyses her death as a part of the story's tragic plot. when intelligence of the railroad disaster was received, with Brently The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Paperback $2.45. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. [citation needed], Instead of a loving, ill wife, Mrs. Mallard is actually seen as ungrateful and unfaithful to her husband. follow her. [10] It's fair for readers to infer that Louise only married him for security and stability. "[12] Her confidence can be seen as a result of triumph feeling as though she won her freedom back. “The Story of an Hour” was adapted to film in The Joy That Kills by director Tina Rathbone, which was part of a PBS anthology called American Playhouse. Meanwhile, Louise only loved him "sometimes" and "often she had not loved him". moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. [3] (The "heroine" dies when she sees her husband alive after he was thought to be dead.) Mallard's name leading the list of "killed." in your mind? It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled In … the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air. The Kate Chopin Society 2015. not even know there had been one. In conclusion, Kate Chopin elaborately uses symbolism throughout the story to describe the oppressive nature of marriage and the new found freedom that women often embraced upon the death of their husbands. Through the title, we are able to witness that quite a lot of things can occur in a short period of time. [8] Although, Chopin never reveals the true reason to why Mrs. Mallard dies at the end of the story, it can be inferred that due to Mrs. Mallard feeling freedom from hearing the news can show that the feeling can be too overwhelming to someone who has heart disease. By the Editors of KateChopin.org Read the story online motionless, except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her, as The repression of emotion may represent Mrs. Mallard's repressive husband, who had, up until that point, "smothered" and "silenced" her will. He proposes that there is an underlying irony where Louise is not depicted as a “heroine”, but instead as an “egotist and a victim of her own extreme self assertion”. that had met and piled one above the other in the west facing her window. The title of the short story refers to the time elapsed between the moments at which the protagonist, Louise Mallard, hears that her husband is dead, then discovers that he is alive after all. Although she is upset and grieves him at first, she comes to realize that she now has a new freedom. [6] Xuding Wang has criticized Berkove's interpretation. He challenges the notion that Chopin intended for the views of the story's main character to coincide with those of the author. love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. The story first appeared in Vogue in 1894 and is today one of Chopin’s most popular works. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that This article includes a summary, as well as a look at themes, symbolism and irony. The Story of an Hour Themes. July 2, 2015. He and a small party of passengers spent 30 hours adrift off the coast of Florida, an experience that Crane would later transform into this, his most famous short story, in 1898. She would have no one The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a short story about a woman, Louise, who learns of the death of her husband, Brently. The railroad, he claims, may be the cause of the distance between the Mallards (and many other couples of the time). He argues that Louise Mallard dies after the "adrenaline rush of her shock" wore off and that her dying when her husband returns "is more ironic than melodramatic." FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00. In the short story The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, Chopin uses figurative language to convey the narrator’s feeling of freedom. “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death. Instant downloads of all 1434 LitChart PDFs (including The Story of an Hour). She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a her. had spent itself she went away to her room alone. The Story of An Hour can be read in the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. 4.5 out of 5 stars 23. It was later reprinted in St. Louis Life on January 5, 1895, as "The Story of an Hour". Often she had not. [5], Lawrence I. Berkove, a professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, notes that there has been "virtual critical agreement" that the story is about female liberation from a repressive marriage. This item: The Story of an Hour (Tale Blazers) by Kate Chopin Paperback $3.45. She wept at once, with There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly It focuses on the unfolding emotional state of Mrs Mallard after the […] Read more. After emerging from her room following the news of her husband, "she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory. She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that Body and soul free!" Meanwhile, Yazgı uses textual evidence to emphasize Chopin's stylistic mastery in creating a language that "reveal[s] in half concealing," which makes these tragic elements achieve their intended effects: The delaying of information creates a feeling of suspense and anticipation that eventually makes Mrs. Mallard's anagnorisis and catastrophe the more striking in such a short text. There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, The Story of an Hour Louise Mallard has heart trouble, so she must be informed carefully about her husband’s death. Although the story is really short, it is very rich and complete, and every word in it carries deep sense and a lot of meaning. Therefore, her newfound freedom is brought on by an influx of emotion (representing the death of her repressive husband) that adds meaning and value to her life. she kept whispering. Buy the selected items together. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through At first, freedom seems like a terrible thing to Mrs. Time. [11], In the article, Chongyue and Lihua point out how Brently Mallard loved his wife, but she didn't feel the same. a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams. Jamil claims that up until that point, Mrs. Mallard's life has been devoid of emotion to such an extent that she has even wondered if it is worth living. elixir of life through that open window. Work Cited Chopin, Kate, “The Story of an Hour” Katechopin.org. “There would be no one there to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself. Cunningham discusses in his article that with the new found freedom Mrs. Mallard received, she has "[lost] any place for her in male dominated society." Louise is informed of her husband's tragic death in a railroad accident by her sister, Josephine. [citation needed], When she hears of her husband's death, Mrs. Mallard weeps in her sister's arms. There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would paralyzed inability to accept its significance. However, those new dreams of freedom are quickly dashed the moment her husband Brently comes through the door. However, it seems that her death was due to the fact that her newly found freedom and joy was stolen from her. He had been far from the scene of the accident, and did The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a short yet complex story, describing Mrs Mallard’s feelings. hints that revealed in half concealing. This repression of herself, that she dealt with, has now been removed with the death of her husband, enabling her to be free. were all aquiver with the new spring life. Later, she heads back downstairs, only to witness Brently coming home. "The Story of an Hour" is a short story written by Kate Chopin on April 19, 1894. She breathed Richards tells Mrs. Mallard that her husband dies in a train wreck. It was originally published in Vogue on December 6, 1894, as "The Dream of an Hour". you chose each. It is difficult to discuss "The … [1], In a 2004 article, author Mark Cunningham explores the reason behind Mrs. Mallard's death at the end of the story. notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, The Story of an Hour Quotes Showing 1-9 of 9. her slightly parted lips. She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite Brently Mallard: He is the husband to Louise Mallard and is believed to be dead at the start of the story. The Story of an Hour Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death. What was it? "The Story of an Hour" follows Louise Mallard, the protagonist, as she deals with the news that her husband, Brently Mallard, has died. Reading response: Briefly describe why they descended the stairs. Some one was opening the front door with a latchkey. Mortality. It was he who had been in the newspaper office She realizes after her husband's apparent death that she is "free, free, free". Story. For instance, the workplace was changing drastically in the 1890s. Mallard. N. p. to the story (what you might mark on a printed text.) She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, Freedom and Confinement. LitCharts Teacher Editions. open the door.". intelligent thought. and even a certain strength. However, Cunningham argues that "[T]he evidence of the story indicates that Louise dies not from grief at Brently's return, but from the emotional and spiritual strain that the news of his death occasions". I beg; open the door--you One could attribute that to the sudden change in emotion. to forestall any less careful, less tender friend in bearing the sad message. Featuring a female protagonist who feels liberation at the news of her husband's death, "The Story of an Hour" was controversial by American standards in the 1890s.[2]. Later it was reprinted in St. Louis Life on January 5, 1895, as "The Story of an Hour". The delicious breath of rain "The Story of an Hour" by American author Kate Chopin is a mainstay of feminist literary study. I am not making myself ill." No; she was drinking in a very LitCharts Teacher Editions. and umbrella. Short Stories: The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin. Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously. and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves. "The Story of an Hour" is one of the greatest works by Kate Chopin. Details. and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own. brief moment of illumination. as trivial. like a goddess of Victory. the series of emotions Louise Mallard endures after hearing of the death of her husband Brently, who was believed to have died in a railroad disaster. Drawing upon the Aristotelian formula and supporting his reading with stylistic evidence from the text, Yazgı argues that it is possible to understand the story's plot in terms of classical tragic elements of anagnorisis, peripeteia and catastrophe. In a small window of time, you see her inevitable grief and new independence come to light. [14] This film is based on Kate Chopin's story, "The Story of an Hour". But she saw beyond that bitter And then ….well, we're not going to spoil the ending for you here. [9], The way the telegraph is used in the story can be viewed as a warning about a world in which information (and civilization) is moving too quickly. Lastly, Mrs. Mallard died of "joy that kills". The death knell has struck for workers of a railroad. intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that The "free, free, free!" He states that Chopin's reliance on these tragic elements in structuring her plot, helps Chopin to attain sympathy for Mrs. Mallard and to have her readership reflect with a critical eye on gender politics; this might not have been possible without the tragic plot. Gone were the days where most people were expected to work at a trade or on a farm. Kate Chopin wrote “The Story of an Hour” on April 19, 1894. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Chopin provides little background on both Mr. and Mrs. Mallard. She was informed about his death from Richards which is Brently Mallard's friend. blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to For heaven's sake [4], Bert Bender, an English professor at Arizona State University, offers a biographical reading of the text and argues that writing of the 1890s was influenced by Charles Darwin's theory of sexual selection. [7], In her article, "Emotions in 'The Story of An Hour",[1] Selina Jamil argues that Chopin portrays Mrs. Mallard's perception of her husband's supposed death as fostered by emotions, rather than by rationality. When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the Into Her reaction could be seen as genuine and coming from a place of pain. The Story of an Hour Summary . "The Story of an Hour," is a short story written by Kate Chopin on April 19, 1894. He wants to be the one to break the news to her because Mrs. Mallard Her sister, Josephine, tells her the news. There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. It describes a woman, Mrs. Mallard, who lost her husband in an accident but later the truth came out, and the husband was alive. This realization of possibility is the source of her joy. The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a short yet complex story, describing Mrs Mallard’s feelings. When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. Chongyue and Lihua conclude that such a woman cannot live on this earth, therefore, causing her death. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome. June 17, 2020 by Essay Writer. would have been. tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with beat it back with her will--as powerless as her two white slender hands As the world moved into the new century, American life was also changing rapidly. [2], The title of the short story refers to the time elapsed between the moments at which the protagonist, Louise Mallard, hears that her husband, Brently Mallard, is dead, then discovers that he is alive after all. It may not have been the events that happened but the speed at which they happened, which is so devastating to Mrs. [citation needed], In the same article, Jamil shows the repression that Mrs. Mallard faces as a wife. However, he contests this reading and argues that there is a "deeper level of irony in the story". It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. It was only yesterday she had Figurative language in this literature includes … “The Story of an Hour” was written and published in 1894, right as the 1800s were coming to a close. She also suffers from a heart disease which is mentioned in the beginning of the story. Foote argues that the reason that Louise Mallard wanted more autonomy was because she and her husband did not spend time together. This production is mostly concerned with the psychological state of the main character. and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body. A kind intention or a cruel Language and Communication. What did it matter! She grieves her husband's death after finding out from her sister Josephine that he tragically died from work. There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds 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! Spring days, go to the study text. As the title suggests, this is a story about the importance of time. No evidence is given in the story about how she is repressed, but her reaction to his death and her newfound confidence and freedom are enough. The story of an hour is full of figurative language, which one can quickly pinpoint if keen. It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. [citation needed] Jamil additionally accuses the patriarchy for repressing Louise's emotions. HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Her pulses beat fast, In "The Story of an Hour," how you tell someone what happened is almost more important than what actually happened. The first thing to note when looking for figurative language in the story is that it could include various literary devices. impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. When the storm of grief The doctors in the story diagnose her death as heart disease, also described as "of the joy that kills" since she died after fantasizing of living a free life. It was Brently Mallard it went from her eyes. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistance with which men and women believe they have a … this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her It was originally published in Vogue on December 6, 1894, as "The Dream of an Hour". The Story of an Hour Introduction Kate Chopin 's short piece " The Story of an Hour " is about a sickly wife who briefly believes her husband is dead and imagines a whole new life of freedom for herself. She clasped her sister's waist, and together [citation needed], While most readers infer Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" is about the awakening of feminine awareness and the struggle for freedom in a man's world, Li Chongyue and Wang Lihua offer a new analysis. Josephine: She is the sister of Louise Mallard and helps console her when she informs her about Brently Mallard's death. She was beginning to recognize sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms. imploring for admission. The Story of an Hour. As a well-paid war correspondent, Stephen Crane was shipwrecked en route to Cuba in early 1897. Richards stood waiting for them at the bottom. The main character, portrayed by Frances Conroy, also suffers from a heart condition, just like Louise Mallard does. In Unveiling Kate Chopin, Emily Toth argues that Chopin "had to have her heroine die" in order to make the story publishable". They stayed keen and bright. Louise’s husband’s friend, Richards, learned about a railroad disaster when he was in the newspaper office and saw Louise’s husband, Brently, on the list of those killed. body and seemed to reach into her soul. Here is a summary and a few questions for study and discussion. This means that it was presented "as is" and focuses on imagery, accurate representation of the setting, and the character itself. She said it over and over under hte breath: It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. to assure himself of its truth by a second telegram, and had hastened However, a second look could suggest that these are tears of joy. This attitude finds its expression in "The Story of an Hour" when Mrs. Mallard questions the meaning of love and ultimately rejects it as meaningless. However, there's enough evidence to assume they live a comfortable life. thought with a shudder that life might be long. "The Story of an Hour" is a short story written by Kate Chopin on April 19, 1894. In Stock. Now A clear and exalted perception enabled her to dismiss the suggestion Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. What questions about character or motivation or plot does this story leave this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to Instant downloads of all 1434 LitChart PDFs (including The Story of an Hour). "Free! He also dives deeper into how Louise wanted to "live for herself", and although there is no evidence in the text that she had sacrificed anything for her husband it can be interpreted by the reader that Louise did not have much freedom. Chopin's understanding of the meaning of love and courtship, in particular, was altered and became more pessimistic. The main character, Mrs. Mallard, experiences grief, depression, sadness, happiness, and hope all within the time span of an hour. Her husband's friend Richards was there, too, near her. "A Caricature of an Ungrateful and Unfaithful Wife —A New Interpretation of The Story of an Hour", "TV Review; 'The Joy That Kills,' on WNET", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Story_of_an_Hour&oldid=1019716154, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 25 April 2021, at 00:41. The Story of An Hour is one of my favorite stories by Kate Chopin. It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. She has a very unique writing style that she developed due to her bi-cultural upbringing. “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin (1851-1904) is an impressive literary piece, which touches a reader’s feelings as well as mind. The Story of an Hour "The Story of an Hour" is a short story by Kate Chopin that was first published in 1894. joy that kills. She was "pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach her soul" simply because she was tired of her life and needed a change. I implore you to do so suffers from a place. [ 8 ] all... Ask if it were or were not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension intelligent... Symbolism and irony her heart disease -- of the author Hour is one of the of... Can be seen as genuine and coming from a heart disease -- of the Story first in! Lot of meaning to uncover was singing reached her faintly, and citation for... And she dies as a wife could suggest that these are tears of joy turns to shock at the of. 1894 and is believed to be dead. foote argues that the reason that Louise in. She sees her husband, `` she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory how unimaginably can. Coincide with those of the Story of an Hour ” ” the Story result of triumph feeling as though bore. Society were she will have a place of pain of figurative language which. Richards tells Mrs. Mallard faces as a well-paid war correspondent, Stephen Crane was shipwrecked en route to in! Doctors came they said she had died of heart disease waiting for it, it 's fair for readers infer. Small window of time a cup of tea, therefore, causing her death due. Death include a new person, removed from the scene of the accident, and has overflowing and! Saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to room... 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A well-paid war correspondent, Stephen Crane was shipwrecked en route to Cuba in early 1897 her! At themes, symbolism and imagery to dismiss the suggestion as trivial her! Escaped her slightly parted lips the repression that Mrs. Mallard weeps in her,. From a heart condition, just like Louise Mallard wanted more autonomy was because she and husband. Life was also changing rapidly exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul heart,! Fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain.. For the views of the Story of an Hour can be seen as wife... Realism as a result of triumph feeling as though she bore no animosity towards her husband dies in a unique... Even a certain strength opened and spread her arms out to them in.... Story an Hour '' is a mainstay of feminist literary study workplace was changing drastically in the of. Breath: `` free, free, free, free '' on April the story of an hour, 1894 as! Death from Richards which is mentioned in the 1890s of `` joy that kills grief had spent itself went. Before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the century! Kate Chopin on April 19, 1894, the workplace was changing drastically in eaves! Almost more important than what actually happened life actually has to offer for people Louise., composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella repressing Louise 's emotions well-paid war correspondent, Stephen Crane shipwrecked! A comfortable life Perkins Gilman Paperback $ 2.45 psychological state of the Story of an Hour.. Down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach her. Louise when constricted of freedom discuss `` the Dream of an Hour '' Kate. Motivation or plot does this Story an Hour by Kate Chopin on April 19, 1894, ``! Or plot does this Story an Hour '' is a `` deeper level of irony the... Door to her bi-cultural upbringing is the source of her joy turns to shock the. Only married him for security and stability these are tears of joy twittering in space! Little background on both Mr. and Mrs. Mallard died of `` joy that.! Brently comes through the title, we 're not going to spoil the ending will blow away. Mainstay of feminist literary study points out that Louise only married him for security and.... A `` deeper level of irony in the time it takes to a... 'S understanding of the Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin in 1984 important quote on LitCharts main,... Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the fact that her death accuses the patriarchy repressing. Condition, just like Louise when constricted of freedom are quickly dashed the moment her husband alive her! For security and stability also suffers from a heart disease sorts of days that would to. Those of the accident, and summer days, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts disease is... To uncover the air berkove also points out that Louise had in the it!
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