Story of an Hour Symbolism Essay Example

act, if he or she was to be disciplined.

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When she heard the news Mrs. Mallard wanted to be away from everyone, so she went in sat in her room alone. A child would do the same thing if they were to be disciplined. There are several symbols in the story that reach out to the reader. Chopin writes “There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul. ”(Chopin, 1). The adjectives in the passage symbolize a feeling of being embraced and supported by the chair.

As she sat in the chair she was able to comprehend her husband’s death. The chair’s location is important, it is facing an open window, this symbolizes being open to change. As Mrs. Mallard looks through the open window she sees many other symbols of new life for her. “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. ” (Chopin, 1). The trees represent a new life to come, something new is happening in her life.

Chopin uses the setting of a “delicious breath of rain was in the air” referring to the calmness after a storm. This represents Mrs. Mallard looking past the present and being able to look forward to the future. An overlooked symbol in the story is Mrs. Mallard’s heart problem. A woman with a heart

condition would not be able to handle the news of her husband’s death. This is why her sister gave the news to her in broken sentences. When Mrs. Mallard received the news she handled it in a very calm manner. On the other hand when she realized her new freedom her heart started racing with excitement.

Life had a whole new meaning to her and she was ready to regain her independence. With the buildup of the new life ahead of Mrs. Mallard, the reader does not expect what happens at the end of the story. Chopin writes “There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory. She clasped her sister’s waist, and together they descended the stairs. ” (Chopin, 2). Mrs. Mallard believes she has won the final battle and has escaped an unhappy marriage. Before she knew it her selfish ways had caught up to Mrs.

Mallard one last time. “Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brentley Mallard who entered,”(Chopin, 2). Mrs. Mallard, who was joyful of being independent, had a heart attack after the shocking realization that her husband was alive. Her death was foreseeable by the course of the story, but its ironic knowing that her enjoyment of her husband’s death lead to her fatal reaction to him being alive. The sight of her husband was too much for her to handle and the shock of realizing she was not free after all lead to her sudden heart attack.

In conclusion, Chopin sent a thorough message by writing this short story. The message being, do not take life for granted.

This applies to the story because Mrs. Mallard seemed to receive a blessing in disguise by being freed of an unhappy marriage. She did not realize that having freedom and having her individual identity is something that you cannot take for granted. To prove her point, Chopin uses symbolism, characteristics, irony, and other narrative devices to explain the meaning of this bittersweet story.