Comparison of the Story of an Hour and a Sorrowful Woman Essay Example

prove her value to him, the child, or the house. Clearly he believes he’s in control.

Her depression turns into anger with her life. She blames her family and acts out, "After supper several nights later, she hit the child. She had known she was going to do it when the father would see"(p. 2). In the end, she knows her life isn’t enough, but it isn’t the family’s fault. She goes to the kitchen and prepares food, washes laundry, and takes care of the house. She turns over to them all she was worth and retires forever. In "The Story of an Hour" Chopin portrays marriage and the role and feelings of women in the 19th century as subordinate contributors to the husbands.

The third word of the story is “Mrs. ”, identifying the protagonist as a wife, defining her role and her life. She is also identified as weak and fragile. When her husband is killed in a train accident Mrs. Mallard cries, but for different reasons than would be expected. She is sad for her husband’s death, but, moreover, she is overcome with joy. For now she is free. No one recognizes her true emotions because women fall apart when their spouse dies; it’s required. Marriage is portrayed as a life sentence. She said it over and over again under her breath: ‘free, free, free! ' Her pulse beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body"(1). Mrs. Mallard was relieved that her husband died for she thought her sentence was over. When she realized that he was still alive, and therefore she was still committed to the marriage,

she died from the shock and horror of being trapped. In both stories, women were expected to keep house, cook, bear and rear children—but little more.

Moreover, should a woman find work, employers generally discriminated against women by hiring them for menial jobs. Repression in both women may very well have been the reason for their ailments and certainly their deaths Though a weak heart and suicide might be a stretch, as to be caused by repression, the stress of living a life that is not of one’s choosing, certainly would be a great aggravation of one’s heart and mind. The implication is made in both stories that death may be preferable to living a life outside of your control and choice.