Mrs. Mallard Abuse

Chopin expertly adds irony to the story by stating, “When the doctors came they say she had died from heart disease - of joy that kills” (8). However, the readers know that she died because of the sudden loss of her new found freedom. This develops irony because the characters didn’t know the excitement she felt when her spouse “passed away”, but the readers know she rejoiced in her freedom. From the characters point of view, it may seem she died because she was so excited her husband returned safely. After Mrs. Mallard barracked herself in her room, it is stated that she “Abandoned herself” and then started chanting “Free! Free! Free!” (7). This displays her excitement towards her husband's death. However, the other characters are fearing for her health since they believe she is not strong enough to get through the

Through Mrs. Mallard, we could see the social repression that women felt at that time. Therefore, in this story there is so much repression, Chopin said "They were locked into marriages" that probably loved. At least Mrs. Mallard says her husband "never looked at her save with love" (Chopin 34).

Mallard is known to have “heart trouble” (Chopin para. 1) and according to the text, “It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing” (Chopin para. 2). Therefore, upon hearing the news of her husband’s death, she starts to cry and goes to her room where she can be alone and grieve for her husband. Mrs. Mallard feels as if a sudden weakness disperses throughout her soul. As the author states, “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 para. 4). Mrs. Mallard realizes that her husband is really dead and will not be coming back. As she continues to sit in her armchair, she allows her thoughts to run

Mallard as “young, with a fair, calm face…” (428) who is suffering from heart trouble. From the start, the readers are led to believe that Mrs. Mallard was going through emotional turmoil in her life, as it is scarce for a young woman to be facing heart issues.  The story is written in 1894, a time period where women had no right to vote and were expected to remain housewives. It is clear that Chopin is referring to Mrs. Mallard’s health issues as a result of her being overly limited by her husband. Chopin illustrates, “There would be no powerful will binding hers… men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature” (429). Mrs. Mallard realizes that the life she lived, with her husband controlling her and society dictating how she is supposed to act, was not the type of life she ever wanted. She understands her worth as a human being, and her rights to freedom and equality. This is shown when she echoes, “Free! Body and soul free!” (429). At the end of the story, the fear of losing her freedom and sense of self-worth is what causes Mrs. Mallard to die due to her already weakened heart, after seeing her husband

Mallard and Desiree both have struggled within their marriages that have driven them to death. There is nothing neither woman could do to help their situations. The only way they were freed from controlling men was by death. “When the doctor came, they said she had died of heart disease—of joy that kills” (Chopin 429). Mrs. Mallard died after seeing her husband at the front door. She was so excited to be free. Once she saw him, it gave her a heart attack. She could not believe what was before her eyes after being told he was killed. “She walked across a deserted field, where the stubble bruised her tender feet, so delicately shod, and tore her thin gown to shreds. She disappeared among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the banks of the deep, sluggish bayou; and she did not come back again” (Chopin 434). Desiree chose to end her sufferings and her child’s future sufferings by walking into the bayou and not coming back up. If she did not end their lives than Desiree would have been in a home where she was not wanted and their child together would be treated as a slave because Armand was racist. Although their lives end, Mrs. Mallard and Desiree both had freedom in the

Mallard after her sister tells her the news of her husband is not the common reaction expected when someone suddenly dies. Her reaction quotes, “She did hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment” (Chopin 653). This quote indicates the fact that she does not react the way that a spouse would when he or she’s spouse has passed and having the utter feeling of denial. Though uncertain of her own feelings, Chopin begins to describe Mrs. Mallard’s decaying thoughts of her former lifestyle into something more

Through Mrs. Mallard, we could see the social repression that women felt at that time. Therefore, in this story there is so much repression, Chopin said "They were locked into marriages" that probably loved. At least Mrs. Mallard says her husband "never looked at her save with love" (Chopin 34).

Body and soul free” (Chopin 2). This means Mrs. Mallard could have been happy that her husband was gone because he controlled her, similar to how John controlled his wife in “The Yellow Wallpaper.” Kate Chopin wrote, “And yet, she had loved him-sometimes. Often she had not” (Chopin 2). Therefore, it seems evident that Mrs. Mallard was controlled by her husband, but believed it was the expected action to grieve over him, so that is what she did to fit into the standard stereotypes of society.

Mallard was feeling she was now a stronger person or character. She was aware that when the time of seeing her motionless husband's body she would cry once again but that wasn’t going to stop her from feeling alive once more. Mrs. Mallard was thinking of the future that was coming for her, after her husband's burial, after he’s officially gone. She was looking at the years that would come and would belong to her and only her with no one to tell her what to do. Chopin tells us that Mrs. Mallard in her thoughts was thinking that “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.” She has finally realized the social restrictions that she was unaware were placed on her but now she looks at life in a new way, she was no longer a “prisoner” of her husband. Having to undergo these restrictions we can see how Mrs. Mallard was able to become a stronger character as the story advances.

Mrs Mallard's awkward attitude after learning of her husband's death establishes an irony- somebody who is really happy in marriage will not enjoy nature in peace and have mixed emotions; the person will feel genuine grief upon hearing of the death of her husband. Here, Mrs Mallard's reaction portrays the extent to which her thirst for freedom was strong. Kate Chopin allows us to visualise the moment that Mrs Mallard is able to shed the bondage of marriage: "free, free, free!." She feels liberated through her husband's death. Much emphasis is laid on her joy upon finding freedom- "there would be no one to live for." The author also points out that "she knew that she would weep again.....folded in death." This only highlights the fact that it is not an expression of love but seems more like a duty that

Mallard struggles to come to terms with her husband’s death while also finding out what it means for her future. In the beginning Mrs. Mallard is told of her husband’s death “with the inability to accept its significance.” meaning that his death means more and will affect her life in more ways than the obvious(38). As she processes her grief Mrs. Mallard realizes that his death will give her an escape from under his control. Chopin says Mrs. Mallard is “young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength.

There are two settings in the story one is downstairs and one is up. Down Stairs were learn that Mrs.Mallard was afflicted with heart trouble.The fact that Chopin is very unclear and just says ”heart trouble” suggest that Mrs. Mallard's problems are with in her mind and her relationship with Mr.Mallard indicating that that she feels oppressed in her marriage. When Josephine, Mrs.Mallard's sister revealed with “veiled hints” that Brently Mallard was dead she wept hysterically “with sudden wild abandonment in her sister's arms”, opposed to feeling numb or “paralyzed” as she knows many other

Chopin includes that Mrs. Mallard tried to fight off these ideas with her will (Booth 307). Her embraced feelings of independence could have been viewed as forbidden. Although she is excited by these thoughts, she tries to resist the pleasure she truly feels when she realizes the freedom that she has gained. The words “free, free, free!” escaped from her mouth (Booth307). She attempted to hold back the overwhelming desires for her own life. Perhaps she is hesitant to welcome these feelings because of the public view on women’s rights, and the potential consequences for those who opposed such views. Despite the faithfulness and love Mrs. Mallard showed for her husband, the extreme relief she felt in no longer having a marital obligation overpowered her feelings of sadness and loss.

All relationship has a problem or assumption of some type, if it didn’t it would not be a relationship. In the story, Mrs. Mallard is happy to hear about her husband’s death because it is like the cuffs around her hands began to loosen up. In the story, Mrs. Mallard is portrayed as a woman without a say in anything but now she does she is free from a man over the female world. For example “ She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with new spring life “ (Chopin page 1). This is

In the Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin uses Mrs. Mallard to express how freedom is dangerous. Mrs. Mallard becomes so obsessed with freedom that she disregards her husband’s death. The narrator explains that Mrs. Mallard, “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself”. Mrs. Mallard’s realization of becoming free, overtakes all that has happened and gets her to forget her husband’s death. Another way Mrs. Mallard obsesses with freedom is when she belittles her own love for her husband and love in general. Mrs. Mallard,” yet she had loved him-sometimes. Often, she had not. What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly