Analysis Of A Respectable Woman

     Relationships seem to be the favorite subject of Kate Chopin’s stories. As Margaret Bauer suggests that Chopin is concerned with exploring the “dynamic interrelation between women and men, women and patriarchy, even women and women” (Bauer 146). In “The Story of an Hour” Chopin deals with the subject of marriage. She illustrates the influence of family alliance on individual freedom. According to Wohlpart,“The Story of an Hour” describes the journey of Mrs. Mallard against the Cult of True Womanhood as she slowly becomes aware of her own desires and thus of a feminine self that has long been suppressed”(Wohlpart 2). The Cult of True Womanhood in the XIX century included “purity” and “domesticity”. The former suggested that women must maintain their virtue. The latter – denied them their intellectual and professional capabilities (Papke 12). Being the victim of this Cult, Louise Mallard was a good example of a wife without “her own desires and feminine self”.

In ‘The Story of an Hour’ the struggles and hardships of women in day to day life are conveyed. In ‘The Story of an Hour’, Chopin implies that marriage, even when

Commonly explored throughout her works, the idea of marriage inhibiting a woman’s freedom is the driving force behind Kate Chopin’s contextual objections to propriety. In particular, The Awakening and “The Story of an Hour” explore the lives of women seeking marital liberation and individuality. Mrs. Chopin, who was raised in a matriarchal household, expresses her opposition to the nineteenth century patriarchal society while using her personal experiences to exemplify her feminist views.

In “The Story of an Hour” we see Mrs. Louise Mallard receives news of the death of her husband. The

The 1800s served as a turning point for the role of women in society. Nearing the end of the century, the idea that women should not work outside the home began to be challenged, and women started to hold jobs of their own (Fischer et al., 2000). Great opportunity was given to unmarried women, as they gained independence in living apart from their families (Fischer et al., 2000). Women began to fight for their independence, opposing the idea of only being known as a housewife. Kate Chopin was among the individuals who challenged what the role of women in society was during the late 1800s. Chopin shares her perspective in her two short stories, “The Story of an Hour” and “The Storm.” In “The Story of an Hour,” the main

48-55, ProQuest, http://nclive.org/cgi-bin/nclsm?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/ 226924170?accountid=3442. Literary critic Mark Cunningham presents personal views and ideas about the character, Louise Mallard, in “The Story of an Hour.” He presents the argument that Louise did not pass away after seeing her husband, Brently Mallard, arrive home. Rather he argues she passed away from the emotional strain brought on by the awakening moments of freedom experienced soon after learning of her loss. Cunningham also explains

In "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, we are introduced to Mrs. Mallard. She is portrayed an unloving, heartless, woman who is overjoyed by the passing of her husband-— or at least that is the common misconception. Mrs. Mallard although perceived as inhuman, is actually more human than most would like to believe. While her actions may seem questionable or even to be condemned, they are hardly unthinkable in light of the issues involving marriage and the woman's role throughout history. The story itself presents a valid argument in favor of Louise as she is portrayed as the oppressed wife finally set free after her husband's death.

The death of the main character Louise Mallard is a commonly debated topic when discussing “The Story of an Hour.” In Mark Cunningham’s article “The Autonomous Female Self and the Death of Louise Mallard in Kate Chopin’s ‘Story of an Hour’” he makes arguments for the common interpretations of Mrs. Mallards death. He states that “it is critical commonplace” to assume that the sight of her husband alive kills her (n.p.). Even though the story never directly states that Mrs. Mallard sees her husband, it is easier for ones brain to jump to the conclusion that her

In the selection, A Respectable Woman, Kate Chopin portrayed the life of an early nineteenth-century woman, expected role, and behavior in a largely patriarchal society. During that period, churches in America were instrumental to the way people lived. Due to the large influence of Catholics, Anglicans, and other Protestant churches in America, people believed that having an affair outside of marriage was a taboo and ungodly. Married women symbolized perfection and most times battle, with satisfying sexual desires, and keeping their role as respectable women. Chopin employed the use of plot, conflict, theme, imagery, and symbolism, verbal and dramatic irony, and foreshadowing techniques to narrate the story of a woman torn between satisfying sexual desires and staying faithful.

In ‘The story of an hour’, it is set in a house in the 1890s, a time when women had little to no rights. Louise was the typical housewife married to the working man. She was to keep the house in order and have dinner ready when the man got home. This confinement and role Louise had to play gives her “heart trouble”. At first when Mr. Mallard is reported dead, Louise weeps suddenly then goes to her room. She spends the next several minutes looking at how free she is now that her husband is gone. The setting of the story affects the context greatly. If it had taken place in the 21st century, Louise might not

Kate Chopin is known as one of the greatest feminist authors of her time. She grew up around independent, widowed women: her great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother. With her father’s death due to a train wreck, and her husband’s death from“swamp fever,” Chopin was left alone to support her six children. According to Nina Baym, the author of Chopin’s biography, influences from strong women in Chopin’s life led to why she wrote about desires, limited aspects of women’s lives, and how women began to challenge the male-dominated culture (550). A lack of men as chief figures in Chopin’s life prevented her from experiencing a tradition of submission by women to men. Additionally, many of Chopin’s works were influenced by realism and feminism.

The story "A Respectable Woman" by Kate Chopin’s explore the live of Mrs. Mrs. Baroda, a lady from a high class and her husband Gaston who lived in a sugar plantation in Louisiana. The story hinges upon defining what a respectable woman is and should be. She captures in details the role of a traditional woman towards the creation of a modern women behavior and the challenges they face as they transition into modernity.

In Chopin’s short story “The Story of an Hour” focuses on the character Mrs. Mallard and how she comes to terms with the death of her husband. But the story also subtly suggests how woman were labelled as these domesticated creatures and controlled by societies principles in that time and age. This can be interpreted in the setting of the story and the characterization of the individuals within the story.

At the end of 19th century, American society presented an ideology of patriarchy. Feminists struggle for the equality and discrimination against female. As feminist movement started, lots of female writers were explored. One of the most famous writers is Kate Chopin. Her works mostly present a theme of women pursue freedom and equality. “The Story Of An Hour” and “The Awakening” are her representative works. In these two works, Kate Chopin reveals how women lived under the oppression of male-dominated society, especially for women who got married. They were not financially independent and their freedom and rights were deprived. Therefore female were forced to be an “angle in the home”. Both challenge the preconception that women can only be a housekeeper and marriage is the only way out.

In the selection, A Respectable Woman, Chopin portrayed the life of an early nineteenth-century woman, their expected role, and behavior in a largely patriarchal society. A Respectable Woman in Louisiana, where the author lived, were submissive, domesticated, and conformed to the rules and ethics of the society. During that period, churches in America were instrumental to the way people lived. The churches had a big influence on people’s perception of women. Due to the large influence of Catholics, Anglicans, and other Protestant churches, people believed that having an affair outside of marriage was a taboo and ungodly. Also, that belief played a major part in restricting or keeping women away from voting until a constitution amendment empowered women to exercise voting rights. Married women symbolize perfection and most times battle, with satisfying sexual desires, and keeping their role as respectable women. Chopin employed the use of plot, conflict , theme, imagery and symbolism, verbal and dramatic irony, and foreshadowing technique to narrate the story of a woman torn between satisfying sexual desires and staying faithful in marriage.