The Relationship Between Men and Women Presented in the Short Story “the Story of an Hour”

“The Story of an Hour” was written in a time period when women had no rights in the male-dominated

She felt abandoned about her husband’s death. This story in the beginning expresses how she was feeling. “When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.” (The Story of An Hour 3) She couldn’t believe that this had happened to her. Though this story begins to bring a twist throughout the end. One part of the story states how she was so happy and relieved that her husband has died. “And 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 recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!” “Free! Body and soul free!” (The Story of An Hour 13) This part is where the reader questions about why she started to feel that way. But once you start to really understand the story and go through the details carefully. I believe she says that because maybe the relationship was not a good healthy relationship. She was probably treated in such a negative way and was relieved that she won’t be able to deal with it anymore. This story compares to American culture a lot because back then women weren’t treated as good as men. Women were picked on a lot because they weren’t as tough or as good as men. So she reminded herself that she will not be able to deal with how her husband use to

In “The Story of an Hour” the main character Louise Mallard has just found out that her husband, Brently Mallard, died in a train accident. She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, (527) which means that she didn’t immediately think that her life was over and she could not go on without her husband, she thought of the rest of her life with open arms and excitement. She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. (527) she was looking forward to a whole new life, a life of her own. Of course she was sad and knew that she would mourn her husband, be sad when she saw him lying in the casket at his funeral. And yet she had loved him—sometimes. Often she had not. (528) She is saying she did love him but not most of the time. While she was alone in her room staring out the window a feeling came over her that she was unsure of at first, but when she let herself go she realized it was freedom, triumph, and victory. She kept whispering to herself “free, body and soul free!”(528) She and her sister walked down the stairs together to find her husband, Brently, walking through the front door, she died of a heart attack as soon as she saw him.

In "A Sorrowful Woman" the wife is depressed with her life, so much so, "The sight of them made her so sad and sick she did not want to see them ever again"(p.1). This wife and mother has come to detest her life, the sight of her family,

Women are taught from a young age that marriage is the end all be all in happiness, in the short story “The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin and the drama “Poof!” by Lynn Nottage, we learn that it is not always the case. Mrs. Mallard from “The Story of an Hour” and Loureen from “Poof!” are different characteristically, story-wise, and time-wise, but share a similar plight. Two women tied down to men whom they no longer love and a life they no longer feel is theirs. Unlike widows in happy marriages Loureen and Mrs., Mallard discover newfound freedom in their respective husband’s deaths. Both stories explore stereotypical housewives who serve their husbands with un-stereotypical reactions to their husband’s deaths.

The narrator is totally crushed by the gender discrimination. She longed to be seen by her mother and her grandma. The narrator is heartbroken that her mother loved her brother more than her and failed to notice her. “When she went into Nonso’s room to say good night, she always came out laughing that laugh. Most times, you pressed your palms to your ears to keep the sound out, and kept your palms pressed to your ears, even when she came into your room to say Good night, darling, sleep well. She never left your room with that laugh” (190). Her agony can be easily seen by the way of her narrating. She does not get the affection that she deserves. She really needs the affection from her own mother, but she is not getting it. She compares the love which her mother shows to his brother and herself. This is gender discrimination can be seen with her grandmother too. She hated her grandma as she would always support her brother and find fault with her. Even though what the brother did, no matter what crime. Her mother and grandmother always supported her brother and never supported or showed interest towards

The narrator is given a sense of oppression from the beginning of the story by keeping a hidden diary from her husband as “a relief to her mind.” Throughout the story her true thoughts are hidden from the readers and her husband, which gives the story a symbolic perspective.

Mrs. Louise Mallard never really had any freedom because she married young and was always confined in her home doing wifely duties“‘ Free! Body and soul free!”’she whispered this multiple times. Louise Mallard, has come the realization that her husband's passing was not only tragic, but also a beneficial cutting of her marital ties. The crisis of her grief has given her a new insight on life and she also understands that her marriage has limited her independence and freedom. Mrs. Mallard was very unhappy in her marriage and she barely loved her husband. “‘And yet she had loved him--sometimes”’ Mrs. Mallard was seeking freedom from her marriage because she was unhappy and when she found out her husband died she could feel the freedom she’s always

The narrator of the story who is the main character and unnamed, this symbolizes her significance as if she unimportant or a nonfactor especially for the era that this story takes place where women were not equal to men and often isolated to the home during illness and to raise the family. The narrator is aware of her husband John’s behavior towards her and her illness. She from the beginning doesn’t trust John her husband

According to Post’s feminist analysis, the narrator’s oppression parallels that of all women; she had to choose to live by the oppressive nature of patriarchy or let go of herself.

The Story of an Hour is short, yet, contains important examples of gender roles in marriage. They are important because they represent how women felt married in the 19th century due to male dominance that manifested throughout marriages all over the world. In The Story of an Hour, Mrs. Mallard is a wife that is, at first, seen as distraught, because of her husband’s death. She starts to cry and run to her room, to soon be lifted with the joy that she is now free. It is clear that she felt trapped in the marriage and is now happy that there is no one controlling her any longer. Mrs. Mallard is a prime example of women in marriages in the 19th century, and even some today. Unfortunately, they have to experience sexism from their husbands. Women are dominated by men in marriage and are expected to acquire the stereotypical gender roles.

The Story of an Hour was written in 1894 and during this time women still did not have the right to vote. It makes sense that women would have the feeling of being repressed and oppressed by men and within their marriages.

Historically, marriage has been a necessity for women survival as men have protected and cared for them. However, in the past century the women’s liberation has removed women’s dependence on men. In The Story of an Hour, by Kate Chopin, the institution of marriage is called into question as to whether a woman needs to be married to be truly happy.

Patriarchal Society and the Erasure of the Feminine Self in The Story of an Hour

In, “The Story of an hour” by Kate Chopin is about the protagonist achieving her freedom as she has aspirations to become independent; which is her freedom. Through this short story, the protagonist Mrs. Mallard was confined by gender relations through marriage (Lucas). As noted in this short story there is gender inequality presented by both male and female in marriage, as both “believe(d) they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature” (Chopin 204). Furthermore, the quote as mentioned illustrates the gender inequality present in marriage as either male or female enforce their other partner to follow orders and obligations. Thus, because of the inequality in gender relations, confinement is felt by the other partner. Consequently, leading to a lack of aspirations and a feeling of imprisonment felt by the other partner.