Story Of An Hourpsychology Essay Example
Story Of An Hourpsychology Essay Example

Story Of An Hourpsychology Essay Example

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  • Pages: 2 (356 words)
  • Published: March 17, 2019
  • Type: Report
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In Kate Chopin's "The Story of An Hour," the protagonist character Louise Mallard portrays an unexpected response to her husband's death. The narrator discreetly implies that Mrs. Mallard has discovered a newfound sense of freedom, although brief. However, this freedom is short-lived due to Mrs. Mallard's heart disease. Initially depicted as an average wife who becomes distressed upon hearing the news of her husband's death, Mrs. Mallard retreats to her room to process the tragedy. Yet, she unexpectedly discovers something within herself amidst her tears and emotions - the realization that she is not mourning her husband's loss but rather his death. Mrs. Mallard acknowledges that her husband was a good spouse, but she despises the constraints of marriage and no longer desires to be subjected to another person's will. This realization culminates in Mrs. Mallard

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repeatedly whispering the word "free," signifying her release from the control of another individual. The extent of Louise's marital bondage becomes overwhelming, causing her to yearn for a short life just a day before the accident that claims her husband's life. With his demise, Mrs. Mallard now desires a long life to fully embrace her newfound freedom.The institution of marriage is what entraps Louise, not Mr. Mallard who is not a tyrant holding her in bondage.

The imagery in the story represents the newfound freedom of the character. The trees, trembling with life, symbolize her new life, while the clouds' shadow represents the impact of her marriage on her happiness. The conflict that Louise Mallard experiences is not internally with herself or her husband, but with the societal institution of marriage. This conflict is deeply ingrained in Louise to th

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point that when she learns her husband is alive and she is not free, death becomes her only escape from this internal struggle for personal freedom. The Story of An Hour primarily revolves around Mrs. Mallard's loss of personal freedom upon marrying her husband and submitting to his dominance. This personal conflict is prevalent in most marriages, but rarely reaches such overpowering proportions as in Mrs. Mallard's case.

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