Short Story

The Story of An Hour Everyday Use

The Story of An Hour takes into account one hour in the life of a young woman . It has a simple and linear plot as it describes her , Mrs . Louise Mallard , reaction to the news of her husband 's sudden and sad demise and then to a subsequent news his being alive by her sister . Both news produced different reactions and Chopin has captured these reactions skilfully

Chopin takes in hand the themes of female emancipation , feminine identity , individualism and personal autonomy in "The Story

of an Hour So all thematic expressions illustrate a feminist approach but her feminist approach is quite different . Unlike other feminist who were primarily concerned about the social elevation of women , she craved an understanding of individual sovereignty by penetrating into the conventional needs and wants in the male domain of social life . Mrs Millard initially shows a sense of grief but later realizes a future life of personal freedom and liberty . Story illustrates that Chopin 's approach is not restricted to physical liberation but she broadened it to intellectual as well socio-political autonomy . She was of the view that psychological and intellectual emancipation is the primary requisite that would bring forward the social and physical freedom

In The Story of An Hour , she begins with portraying the socio-psychological afflictions of her protagonist , Louise . She describes her as afflicted with a heart trouble (Chopin , 170 symbolizing the feebleness and fragility attributed to females at the turn of the last century . But as the story progresses , her characterization turns from feebleness to potent one . For example , when her sister discloses death of her husband in .veiled hints that revealed in half concealing (Chopin , 170 , she shows strength . Her relief at the news further manifest the fulfilment of her longing for emancipation , both physical and psychological . Contemporary society and reader do not presuppose this outcome i .e . a woman being capable of dealing with such ruthless realities of life , due to their pre-conceived notions . But Louise thinks that There would be no powerful will bending her in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature (Chopin , 172 . Society is too myopic that it only takes a stereotypical view of the situation . To remove or minimize the stereotypical effect Chopin instigates an elementary change in her disposition as society fixes firmly to its typecasts , disinclined to admit change easily

There are only three characters in the story . Two of them , Josephine and Mrs Millard are virtually present whereas a third character , Mr . Bentley Millard has no visual presence . Josephine is Mrs . Mallard 's sister who brings the news of Mrs . Millard 's husband 's death . She is a compassionate lady who takes care of her sister . Mrs . Millard is portrayed as feeble and fragile lady at the start of the story to depict the typical women conception of that time but she is also described...