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116 The Story of an Hour Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a short but powerful story that explores the complexities of marriage, freedom, and self-discovery. With its rich themes and thought-provoking narrative, this classic piece of literature has inspired countless essays and discussions. If you're looking for essay topic ideas and examples for The Story of an Hour, you've come to the right place. Here are 116 essay topics to help you get started:

• Analyze the character of Mrs. Mallard and how she evolves throughout the story.
• Explore the theme of freedom in The Story of an Hour.
• Discuss the role of marriage in the story and how it impacts the characters.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's emotions before and after learning of her husband's death.
• Examine the use of irony in the story and how it contributes to the overall theme.
• Discuss the significance of the title "The Story of an Hour" and how it relates to the plot.
• Analyze the symbolism of the open window in the story.
• Explore the theme of female independence in The Story of an Hour.
• Discuss the role of societal expectations in the story and how they influence the characters' actions.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of other characters in the story.
• Analyze the significance of the setting in The Story of an Hour.
• Discuss the theme of repression in the story and how it affects the characters' relationships.
• Explore the theme of mortality in The Story of an Hour.
• Discuss the role of gender in the story and how it shapes the characters' experiences.
• Analyze the use of foreshadowing in The Story of an Hour.
• Discuss the theme of self-discovery in the story and how it impacts the characters' development.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of society's expectations.
• Analyze the symbolism of the heart trouble in the story.
• Discuss the theme of isolation in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the theme of rebirth in the story and how it relates to Mrs. Mallard's journey.
• Analyze the role of communication in the story and how it affects the characters' relationships.
• Discuss the theme of empowerment in The Story of an Hour.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her sister's.
• Analyze the role of denial in the story and how it influences the characters' actions.
• Discuss the theme of time in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the theme of grief in the story and how it impacts the characters' emotions.
• Analyze the symbolism of the railroad in the story.
• Discuss the theme of liberation in The Story of an Hour.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her friend's.
• Analyze the role of symbolism in the story and how it enhances the narrative.
• Discuss the theme of identity in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the theme of fate in the story and how it influences the characters' choices.
• Analyze the symbolism of the staircase in the story.
• Discuss the theme of transformation in The Story of an Hour.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her mother's.
• Analyze the role of foils in the story and how they contribute to the characters' development.
• Discuss the theme of betrayal in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the theme of forgiveness in the story and how it impacts the characters' relationships.
• Analyze the symbolism of the storm in the story.
• Discuss the theme of redemption in The Story of an Hour.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her father's.
• Analyze the role of irony in the story and how it enhances the narrative.
• Discuss the theme of sacrifice in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the theme of perspective in the story and how it influences the characters' perceptions.
• Analyze the symbolism of the caged bird in the story.
• Discuss the theme of acceptance in The Story of an Hour.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her neighbors'.
• Explore the theme of choice in the story and how it impacts the characters' decisions.
• Analyze the symbolism of the garden in the story.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her colleagues'.
• Analyze the role of foreshadowing in the story and how it contributes to the overall theme.
• Explore the theme of self-discovery in the story and how it impacts the characters' development.
• Analyze the symbolism of the mirror in the story.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death with that of her classmates'.
• Discuss the theme of mortality in The Story of an Hour.
• Discuss the theme of female independence in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the theme of repression in the story and how it affects the characters' relationships.
• Discuss the theme of freedom in The Story of an Hour.
• Explore the role of marriage in the story and how it impacts the characters.
• Analyze the use of irony in the story and how it contributes to the overall theme.
• Discuss the significance of the setting in The Story of an Hour.
• Analyze the role of marriage in the story and how it impacts the characters.
• Analyze the significance of the title "The Story of an Hour" and how it relates to the plot.
• Compare and contrast Mrs. Mallard's reaction to

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131 The Story of an Hour Essay Topics

“The Story of an Hour” is an 1894 short story by Kate Chopin. Its protagonist, a frail young woman Louise Mallard, hears the news of her husband’s death. She retreats to her room to mourn him. Yet, the more she thinks about her situation, she realizes she is happy with her newfound freedom. Mrs. Mallard leaves her room, hopeful and content, when the front door suddenly opens. It’s her husband, still alive. The story ends with Louise dying of a heart attack.

When looking for a “The Story of an Hour” essay title , there are many ideas that you can consider. You can conduct a literary analysis, discuss the prominent characters, or explore the central themes. Below, our experts have listed 100+ “The Story of an Hour” essay topics. We have also offered some advice on writing a thesis statement for your paper.

• 🔝 Top 13 Essay Questions
• 📋 General Topics for the Essay
• 👩 Essay Prompts: Characters
• 📖 Literary Analysis Topics
• ✍️ The Story of an Hour: Thesis Statement

🔗 References

🔝 top 13 the story of an hour essay questions.

• How does Chopin use irony in the story?
• Why did Louise Mallard have to die?
• How Does “The Story of an Hour” Reflects Women’s Situation in the 19th Century America?
• Is “The Story of an Hour” a feminist story?
• Is Louise Mallard a selfish character?
• What is the significance of freedom in “The Story of an Hour?”
• Could the story have ended differently?
• What is the role of gender in “The Story of an Hour?”
• What Is the Central Idea of Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour?”
• Is the story a reflection of the suffrage movement?
• How does Chopin use the imagery in “The Story of an Hour?”
• What does Chopin’s short story tell us about 19th-century society?
• What’s the Reason of Louise Mallard’s Death in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin?

📋 General Topics for The Story of an Hour Essay

• The symbolism of the title “The Story of an Hour” by Chopin.
• The struggles of Louise Mallard in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The two opposing phenomena of grief and happiness in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The ideals of the 19th century in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The suffocating power of marriage in the life of Louise Mallard.
• The yearning for independence in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The symbolic malady of Louise Mallard in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Death from joy or sorrow in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The Literary Techniques Used in Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour.”
• Comparison of femininity in Little Women and “The Story of an Hour.”
• Women’s oppression in The Handmaid’s Tale and “The Story of an Hour.”
• The position of women in the 19th century in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Women’s voice in Emily Dickinson’s poetry and Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour.”
• The role of nature in the perception of “The Story of an Hour.”
• The motif of crying in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Reaction to death in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Richards and Josephine as important heroes in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The author’s idea in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Relationships in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin .
• Different perspectives of marriage in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Louise Mallard as a representation of women in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Can the story of Mrs. Mallard apply to today’s world?
• The internal conflict in Chopin’s heroine, Louise Mallard.
• The emotional and moral conflicts of Louise Mallard.
• Freedom in Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour.”
• Did Louise Mallard deserve to die in Chopin’s story?
• What is the core idea of “The Story of an Hour?”
• Why is the ending of “The Story of an Hour” necessary to understand the idea?
• Should “The Story of an Hour” be considered a feminist work?
• Was Louise Mallard happy in her marriage?
• The victim positions in “The Story of an Hour” and “The Bloody Chamber.”
• The freedom pondering in Chopin’s The Awakening and “The Story of an Hour.”
• Chopin’s feminist techniques in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The essential lesson in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Are there ironic parts in “The Story of an Hour?”
• Is Louise Mallard a dynamic or static heroine?
• Why is heart disease significant in “The Story of an Hour?”
• Where is Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” set?
• What literary devices are used in “The Story of an Hour?”
• What is the symbolism of the window in “The Story of an Hour?”
• Does Louise Mallard win or lose in the end?
• Did Louise Mallard experience the joy that kills?
• What is the relationship between Louise Mallard and her husband?
• What was the main news in “The Story of an Hour?”
• What were the emotions of Louise Mallard?
• What is Chopin’s writing style in “The Story of an Hour?”
• Is Louise Mallard a good or bad person because of her reaction?
• The patriarchy illustration in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Irony in “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin .
• The role of a woman in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Chopin’s portrayal of internal and external female struggle.
• Comparative analysis of Jo March and Louise Mallard.
• Dependence on men in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The strength and the weakness of Louise Mallard.
• Analysis of women’s purpose in society: Jo March and Louise Mallard.
• The opposing characters of Jo March and Louise Mallard.
• “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin as a Commentary on the Unfair Treatment of Women in the 19th-century America.

👩 The Story of an Hour Essay Prompts: Characters

• How does Louise Mallard’s character change throughout “The Story of an Hour?”
• Compare and contrast Louise’s and Brently’s characters in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Impact of Louise’s social status on her emotional response to her husband’s death.
• Comparison of Louise Mallard’s personality to other characters in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Gender’s role in relationships and characters in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The perception of Louise by other characters.
• “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins: Women Characters Comparison.
• Compare and contrast the characters of Louise and Josephine in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The evolution of Louise’s self-perception and relationship with her husband in the story.
• The manifestation of freedom theme in Louise Mallard’s character in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Character reactions to Louise Mallard’s husband’s reported death in “The Story of an Hour.”
• How do “The Story of an Hour” characters express their emotions?
• The evolution of character relationships in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Louise Mallard in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin.
• The reflection of societal expectations and roles in “The Story of an Hour” characters.
• The demonstration of agency by characters in “The Story of an Hour” amid tragedy.
• The character coping with and confronting loss in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The portrayal of freedom and independence theme by characters in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The representation of marital relationships theme by characters in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Revealing identity and self-discovery theme by characters in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The Story of an Hour: Emotions and Psychology of Women .
• The characters’ illustration of the human experience theme in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Analyze the relationship between Louise Mallard and her husband, Brently Mallard.
• Describe the transformation of Louise Mallard’s emotions throughout the story.
• Discuss the theme of freedom in “The Story of an Hour” and its implications.

📖 The Story of an Hour Essay Titles: Literary Analysis

• Does Chopin personify nature in the story?
• How did Chopin connect the condition of the heart and home?
• How does Chopin demonstrate sexism in “The Story of an Hour?”
• Comparison of “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Story of an Hour” .
• How does The Story of an Hour develop its narrative?
• Is Chopin’s opinion embedded in Mrs. Mallard’s words?
• Is Louise’s death a euphemism for the flowering of feminism?
• Is there personification in “The Story of an Hour?”
• Phraseology in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The dichotomy in “The Story of an Hour.”
• Setting in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin .
• The equality of marriage through the prism of Chopin’s language.
• The role of epithets with open syllables in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The role of metaphor in “The Story of an Hour.”
• The role of the word “freedom” in “The Story of an Hour.”
• What archetypes does Chopin use in Louise’s self-development?
• What does Chopin use to connect deaths in the story?
• What does Chopin use to fuel interest in Louise’s death?
• What elements of “The Story of an Hour” point to Chopin’s opinion?
• What genre best characterizes Chopin’s story?
• What indicates Chopin’s dissatisfaction with women’s dependence on men?
• What indicates that “The Story of an Hour” is feminist?
• What is Chopin’s “a very elixir of life?”
• What is the importance of the “hour” in Chopin’s story?
• “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin: Plot Analysis.
• What is the situational irony in Chopin’s story?
• What is the symbolism of Louise’s heart condition?
• What language tools does Chopin use to demonstrate Louise’s growth?
• What stylistic devices does Chopin use to demonstrate Louise’s confrontation?
• What techniques does Chopin use to control the reader’s mood?
• What values does Chopin present in the text?
• The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin: Analysis .
• Which literary devices indicate the connection between Louise and nature?
• Why did Chopin use irony instead the direct narration?
• Why does Chopin use short dialogues in the story?
• Why is “The Story of an Hour” about women?

✍️ How to Write The Story of an Hour Thesis Statement

A strong thesis statement is one of the most critical facets of a successful literary essay. It should provoke your readers to reflect on your topic. Or it can provide a different perspective on a well-thought-out issue.

These are the key three things to take into account when writing a thesis statement :

• Consider the What and the Why. The first question refers to the claim you will be making about the story. What is it that you want to tell your audience? What aspect of the short story do you wish to explore? The second part, or “the why,” should explain the significance of your topic. Why is it important? Why should your readers care about it?
• Announce your main argument. It is the statement that you will have to prove in your paper. It will also guide your audience through your analysis, explaining what to expect. Remember that your thesis must be specific and relate only to what you will discuss. If you need help formulating it, use our online paraphraser tool .
• Take a strong stance. Your main argument cannot be an observed fact or a subjective opinion. Instead, it should be an assertion. Provide your interpretation of “The Story of an Hour” or some of its aspects. Later, in the body paragraphs, you will defend it.

Thank you for reading our article! We hope you have found an ideal topic for your “The Story of an Hour” essay. If you need to create a quick summary of this text, we have the perfect tool to assist you.

• The Story of an Hour (full text) – Kate Chopin
• Analysis of ‘The Story of an Hour’ by Kate Chopin – Catherine Sustana, ThoughtCo
• Developing a Thesis — Purdue Online Writing Lab
• Literary Criticism: Thesis Examples — University of Texas Arlington
• Thesis Statements for a Literature Assignment — The WAC Clearinghouse

The Story of An Hour - Study Guide

Kate Chopin 's The Story of An Hour (1894) is considered one of the finest pieces of Feminist Literature. We hope that our study guide is particularly useful for teachers and students to get the most from the story and appreciate its boldness shaking up the literary community of its time.

Here's the story: The Story of An Hour , Character Analysis & Summary , Genre & Themes , Historical Context , Quotes , Discussion Questions , Useful Links , and Notes/Teacher Comments

Character Analysis & Summary

Plot Summary : Chopin basically summarizes the external events of the story in the first sentence: "Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death."

Genre & Themes

Challenge Social Conventions : Rather than conform to what's expected, honor your own needs. Just because it's the way it's always been, doesn't mean it has to continue at your expense.

Situational Irony : Life's a bitch-- just when you think you're free from obligation, you go and die yourself, which kind of makes liberation a bit pointless. Chopin's story is a great example of the literary device called situational irony .

Historical Context

Feminist literature, both fiction and non-fiction, supports feminist goals for the equal rights of women in their economic, social, civic, and political status relative to men. Such literature dates back to the 15th century (The Tale of Joan of Arc by Christine de Pisan), Mary Wollstonecraft in the 18th century, Virginia Woolf , Elizabeth Cady Stanton , Florence Nightingale , Elizabeth Perkins Gilman , and Louisa May Alcott . Kate Chopin 's best known novel, The Awakening (1899) and Mary E. Wilkins Freeman 's A New England Nun (1891) led the emerging modern feminist literary movement into the 20th century, during which women earned the right to vote, fought for economic, social, political, educational, and reproductive rights with Gloria Steinem and the Women's Liberation Movement. The 21st century has brought a resurgence of interest in Margaret Atwood 's The Handmaid's Tale with a new streaming video series , and the Women's March After President Trump's Inauguration (2017) drew more than a million protesters in cities throughout the country and world.

It's helpful to know the list of grievances and demands a group of activitists (mostly women) published in The Declaration of Sentiments in 1848. Principal author and first women's conference organizer was Elizabeth Cady Stanton , with high-profile support from abolitionist Frederick Douglass . Many more struggles and attempts to change public opinion followed the conference; it took 72 more years for women to secure the right to vote.

A brief History of Feminism

“Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death."

“She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance."

“When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her."

“She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will--as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been."

"'Free, free, free!'' The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright."

"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!"

"When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills."

Discussion Questions

9. Elaborate on Chopin's uses of irony: 1) Situational Irony : when she gets her freedom, she dies anyway 2) Verbal irony : What is said explicitly is much different than the text's inferences (thinking rather than saying). Reacting to news of a spouse's death with relief, nevermind "monstrous joy" is an "inappropriate" response, for sure. She keeps these thoughts in her head (whispering her chant), with the door closed.

10. Discuss the concept of repression and Chopin's assertion of her real cause of death: "the joy that kills."

11. Read Chopin's allegory about freedom from a cage, her short-short story, Emancipation: A Life Fable . Compare its theme, tone, symbols, and use of irony to this story.

Essay Prompt : Tell the same story from Josephine's point of view (remember, Louisa keeps her door shut most of the time).

Essay Prompt : Consider reading the one act play by Susan Glaspell , Trifles (1916), about a murder trial which challenges our perceptions of justice and morality. Compare it to Chopin's The Story of An Hour

Essay Prompt : Read Kate Chopin 's biography (feel free to extend your research to other sources). How does her personal story reflect her writing?

Useful Links

Biography and Works by Kate Chopin

American Literature's biographies of featured Women Writers

ELA Common Core Lesson plan ideas for "The Story of An Hour"

Veiled Hints and Irony in Chopin's "The Story of An Hour"

Feminist Approaches to Literature , read more about the genre

Kate Chopin's "The Awakening": Searching for Women & Identity

KateChopin.org's biography and assessment of her work

Is It Actually Ironic? TED-Ed lessons on irony

Notes/Teacher Comments

Visit our Teacher Resources , supporting literacy instruction across all grade levels

American Literature's Study Guides

The Story of an Hour

21 pages • 42 minutes read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Story Analysis

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Written at the turn of the 20th century, how does “The Story of an Hour” portray technology such as the railroad and telegraph? Does Chopin suggest any relationship between modernization or industrialization and social reality for women?

Does “The Story of an Hour” follow conventional Aristotelian tragic plot constructions? Identify the possible inciting incident, peripeteia (reversal of fortune), climax, and anagnorisis (discovery) among the emotional events of the story.

How does the story’s extremely short length and narrative timeframe emphasize its themes? Why did Chopin choose to tell “The Story of an Hour” rather than “The Story of a Day”?

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Everything begins with an idea!

The Story of an Hour Essay Topics

Published in 1894, the Story of an Hour is one of the shortest stories taught in colleges. The essays on the story of an hour mostly touch on subjects such as irony, imagery use, female liberation plea, women entrapment within the marriage circle, and symbolism. It’s one of the earliest literatures that address the issue of injustices subjected to women. It’s also the first written piece to predict the potential advent of the widely explosive feminism culture in the modern-day era.

You can write essays to inspire people concerning the subject of injustices on women and the widely explosive feminism. You can choose any topic to base your essay on. In choosing a topic for you’re the story of an hour essay, you’ve to decide which formatting, style, language, and style to use. There are many outstanding thesis statements and topics for “The Story of an Hour” that touch on different themes used in this short story by Kate Chopin. Consider your interests and personal preferences when coming up with a thesis topic if you want to write a paper that flows and touches on the core parts such as the plot and themes.

• Discuss How Chopin Uses the Story of an Hour to Explore Female Sexuality
• Analyzing Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour
• How Kate Chopin Perceives Feminism in The Story of an Hour
• The Story of an Hour—The Story of Enslaved Women
• Write an Essay on Women Enslavement As Documented in the Story of an Hour
• The Story of Death as Documented in the Story of an Hour
• How Disappointment is Depicted in Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour
• Compare and Contrast How Style and Irony is Portrayed in The Story of an Hour
• Discuss How Chopin Characterizes Romantic Love in the Story of an Hour
• The Death of Freedom As Portrayed in The Story of an Hour
• The Selfish Character and Wicked Morals of Mrs Mallard in The Story of an Hour
• The Setting and Nature of The Story of an Hour
• The Search of Freedom in The Story of an Hour
• Societal Conflicts as Portrayed in The Story of an Hour
• How Irony is Fully Depicted in Chopin’s Story of an Hour
• The Story of an Hour as an Eye Opener to Feminism in the 1800s
• An Interesting Essay on Marital Oppression In the Story of an Hour
• How does Kate Chopin think of Marriage in The Story of an Hour?
• How Kate Chopin Describes Social Commentary in The Story of an Hour
• The Iconic and Symbolic Techniques of the Story of an Hour
• The Real Character of Mrs Mallard in the Story of an Hour
• The Readers Response to Kate’s Story of an Hour
• How the Theme of Happiness is Portrayed in the Story of an Hour
• The Rights of Women in the 1940s as Demonstrated in The Story of an Hour
• Women Struggling with Marriages in the Story of an Hour

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General Education

Imagine a world where women are fighting for unprecedented rights, the economic climate is unpredictable, and new developments in technology are made every year. While this world might sound like the present day, it also describes America in the 1890s . 

It was in this world that author Kate Chopin wrote and lived, and many of the issues of the period are reflected in her short story, “The Story of an Hour.” Now, over a century later, the story remains one of Kate Chopin’s most well-known works and continues to shed light on the internal struggle of women who have been denied autonomy.

In this guide to Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” we’ll discuss:

• A brief history of Kate Chopin and America the 1890s
• “The Story of an Hour” summary
• Analysis of the key story elements in “The Story of an Hour,” including themes, characters, and symbols

By the end of this article, you’ll have an expert grasp on Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour.” So let’s get started!

“The Story of an Hour” Summary

If it’s been a little while since you’ve read Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” it can be hard to remember the important details. This section includes a quick recap, but you can find “The Story of an Hour” PDF and full version here . We recommend you read it again before diving into our analyses in the next section! 

For those who just need a refresher, here’s “The Story of an Hour” summary: 

Mrs. Louise Mallard is at home when her sister, Josephine, and her husband’s friend, Richards, come to tell her that her husband, Brently Mallard, has been killed in a railroad accident . Richards had been at the newspaper office when the news broke, and he takes Josephine with him to break the news to Louise since they’re afraid of aggravating her heart condition. Upon hearing the news of her husband’s death, Louise is grief-stricken, locks herself in her room, and weeps.

From here, the story shifts in tone. As Louise processes the news of her husband’s death, she realizes something wonderful and terrible at the same time: she is free . At first she’s scared to admit it, but Louise quickly finds peace and joy in her admission. She realizes that, although she will be sad about her husband (“she had loved him—sometimes,” Chopin writes), Louise is excited for the opportunity to live for herself. She keeps repeating the word “free” as she comes to terms with what her husband’s death means for her life. 

In the meantime, Josephine sits at Louise’s door, coaxing her to come out because she is worried about Louise’s heart condition. After praying that her life is long-lived, Louise agrees to come out. However, as she comes downstairs, the front door opens to reveal her husband, who had not been killed by the accident at all. Although Richards tries to keep Louise’s heart from shock by shielding her husband from view, Louise dies suddenly, which the doctors later attribute to “heart disease—of the joy that kills .”

Kate Chopin, the author of "The Story of an Hour," has become one of the most important American writers of the 19th century. 

The History of Kate Chopin and the 1890s

Before we move into “The Story of an Hour” analysis section, it’s helpful to know a little bit about Kate Chopin and the world she lived in. 

A Short Biography of Kate Chopin

Born in 1850 to wealthy Catholic parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Kate Chopin (originally Kate O’Flaherty) knew hardship from an early age. In 1855, Chopin lost her father, Thomas, when he passed away in a tragic and unexpected railroad accident. The events of this loss would stay with Kate for the rest of her life, eventually becoming the basis for “The Story of an Hour” nearly forty years later.

Chopin was well-educated throughout her childhood , reading voraciously and becoming fluent in French. Chopin was also very aware of the divide between the powerful and the oppressed in society at the time . She grew up during the U.S. Civil War, so she had first-hand knowledge of violence and slavery in the United States. 

Chopin was also exposed to non-traditional roles for women through her familial situation. Her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother chose to remain widows (rather than remarry) after their husbands died. Consequently, Chopin learned how important women’s independence could be, and that idea would permeate much of her writing later on. 

As Chopin grew older, she became known for her beauty and congeniality by society in St. Louis. She was married at the age of nineteen to Oscar Chopin, who came from a wealthy cotton-growing family. The couple moved to New Orleans, where they would start both a general store and a large family. (Chopin would give birth to seven children over the next nine years!) 

While Oscar adored his wife, he was less capable of running a business. Financial trouble forced the family to move around rural Louisiana. Unfortunately, Oscar would die of swamp fever in 1882 , leaving Chopin in heavy debt and with the responsibility of managing the family’s struggling businesses. 

After trying her hand at managing the property for a year, Chopin conceded to her mother’s requests to return with her children to St. Louis. Chopin’s mother died the year after. In order to support herself and her children, Kate began to write to support her family. 

Luckily, Chopin found immediate success as a writer. Many of her short stories and novels—including her most famous novel, The Awakening— dealt with life in Louisiana . She was also known as a fast and prolific writer, and by the end of the 1900s she had written over 100 stories, articles, and essays. 

Unfortunately, Chopin would pass away from a suspected cerebral hemorrhage in 1904, at the age of 54 . But Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and other writings have withstood the test of time. Her work has lived on, and she’s now recognized as one of the most important American writers of the 19th century. 

American life was undergoing significant change in the 19th century. Technology, culture, and even leisure activities were changing. 

American Life in the 1890s

“The Story of an Hour” was written and published in 1894, right as the 1800s were coming to a close. As the world moved into the new century, American life was also changing rapidly. 

For instance, t he workplace was changing drastically in the 1890s . Gone were the days where most people were expected to work at a trade or on a farm. Factory jobs brought on by industrialization made work more efficient, and many of these factory owners gradually implemented more humane treatment of their workers, giving them more leisure time than ever.

Though the country was in an economic recession at this time, technological changes like electric lighting and the popularization of radios bettered the daily lives of many people and allowed for the creation of new jobs. Notably, however, work was different for women . Working women as a whole were looked down upon by society, no matter why they found themselves in need of a job. 

Women who worked while they were married or pregnant were judged even more harshly. Women of Kate Chopin’s social rank were expected to not work at all , sometimes even delegating the responsibility of managing the house or child-rearing to maids or nannies. In the 1890s, working was only for lower class women who could not afford a life of leisure .

In reaction to this, the National American Woman Suffrage Association was created in 1890, which fought for women’s social and political rights. While Kate Chopin was not a formal member of the suffragette movements, she did believe that women should have greater freedoms as individuals and often talked about these ideas in her works, including in “The Story of an Hour.” 

Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" a short exploration of marriage and repression in America.

“The Story of an Hour” Analysis

Now that you have some important background information, it’s time to start analyzing “The Story of an Hour.”

This short story is filled with opposing forces . The themes, characters, and even symbols in the story are often equal, but opposite, of one another. Within “The Story of an Hour,” analysis of all of these elements reveals a deeper meaning.

“The Story of an Hour” Themes

A theme is a message explored in a piece of literature. Most stories have multiple themes, which is certainly the case in “The Story of an Hour.” Even though Chopin’s story is short, it discusses the thematic ideas of freedom, repression, and marriage. 

Keep reading for a discussion of the importance of each theme! 

Freedom and Repression

The most prevalent theme in Chopin’s story is the battle between freedom and “repression.” Simply put , repression happens when a person’s thoughts, feelings, or desires are being subdued. Repression can happen internally and externally. For example, if a person goes through a traumatic accident, they may (consciously or subconsciously) choose to repress the memory of the accident itself. Likewise, if a person has wants or needs that society finds unacceptable, society can work to repress that individual. Women in the 19th century were often victims of repression. They were supposed to be demure, gentle, and passive—which often went against women’s personal desires. 

Given this, it becomes apparent that Louise Mallard is the victim of social repression. Until the moment of her husband’s supposed death, Louise does not feel free . In their marriage, Louise is repressed. Readers see this in the fact that Brently is moving around in the outside world, while Louise is confined to her home. Brently uses railroad transportation on his own, walks into his house of his own accord, and has individual possessions in the form of his briefcase and umbrella. Brently is even free from the knowledge of the train wreck upon his return home. Louise, on the other hand, is stuck at home by virtue of her position as a woman and her heart condition. 

Here, Chopin draws a strong contrast between what it means to be free for men and women. While freedom is just part of what it means to be a man in America, freedom for women looks markedly different. Louise’s life is shaped by what society believes a woman should be and how a wife should behave. Once Louise’s husband “dies,” however, she sees a way where she can start claiming some of the more “masculine” freedoms for herself. Chopin shows how deeply important freedom is to the life of a woman when, in the end, it’s not the shock of her husband’s return of her husband that kills Louise, but rather the thought of losing her freedom again.

Marriage as a “The Story of an Hour” theme is more than just an idyllic life spent with a significant other. The Mallard’s marriage shows a reality of 1890s life that was familiar to many people. Marriage was a means of social control —that is to say, marriage helped keep women in check and secure men’s social and political power. While husbands were usually free to wander the world on their own, hold jobs, and make important family decisions, wives (at least those of the upper class) were expected to stay at home and be domestic. 

Marriage in Louise Mallard’s case has very little love. She sees her marriage as a life-long bond in which she feels trapped, which readers see when she confesses that she loved her husband only “sometimes.” More to the point, she describes her marriage as a “powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature.” In other words, Louise Mallard feels injustice in the expectation that her life is dictated by the will of her husband.

Like the story, the marriages Kate witnessed often ended in an early or unexpected death. The women of her family, including Kate herself, all survived their husbands and didn’t remarry. While history tells us that Kate Chopin was happy in her marriage, she was aware that many women weren’t. By showing a marriage that had been built on control and society’s expectations, Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” highlights the need for a world that respected women as valuable partners in marriage as well as capable individuals.

While this painting by Johann Georg Meyer wasn't specifically of Louise Mallard, "Young Woman Looking Through a Window" is a depiction of what Louise might have looked like as she realized her freedom.

"The Story of an Hour" Characters

The best stories have developed characters, which is the case in “The Story of an Hour,” too. Five characters make up the cast of “The Story of an Hour”:

Louise Mallard

Brently mallard.

• The doctor(s)

By exploring the details of each character, we can better understand their motivations, societal role, and purpose to the story.

From the opening sentence alone, we learn a lot about Louise Mallard. Chopin writes, “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.”

From that statement alone, we know that she is married, has a heart condition, and is likely to react strongly to bad news . We also know that the person who is sharing the bad news views Louise as delicate and sensitive. Throughout the next few paragraphs, we also learn that Louise is a housewife, which indicates that she would be part of the middle-to-upper class in the 1890s. Chopin also describes Louise’s appearance as “young,” “fair, calm face,” with lines of “strength.” These characteristics are not purely physical, but also bleed into her character throughout the story.

Louise’s personality is described as different from other women . While many women would be struck with the news in disbelief, Louise cries with “wild abandonment”—which shows how powerful her emotions are. Additionally, while other women would be content to mourn for longer, Louise quickly transitions from grief to joy about her husband’s passing.  

Ultimately, Chopin uses Louise’s character to show readers what a woman’s typical experience within marriage was in the 1890s. She uses Louise to criticize the oppressive and repressive nature of marriage, especially when Louise rejoices in her newfound freedom. 

Josephine is Louise’s sister . We never hear of Josephine’s last name or whether she is married or not. We do know that she has come with Richards, a friend of Brently’s, to break the news of his death to her sister. 

When Josephine tells Louise the bad news, she’s only able to tell Louise of Brently’s death in “veiled hints,” rather than telling her outright. Readers can interpret this as Josephine’s attempt at sparing Louise’s feelings. Josephine is especially worried about her sister’s heart condition, which we see in greater detail later as she warns Louise, “You will make yourself ill.” When Louise locks herself in her room, Josephine is desperate to make sure her sister is okay and begs Louise to let her in. 

Josephine is the key supporting character for Louise, helping her mourn, though she never knows that Louise found new freedom from her husband’s supposed death . But from Josephine’s actions and interactions with Louise, readers can accurately surmise that she cares for her sister (even if she’s unaware of how miserable Louise finds her life). 

Richards is another supporting character, though he is described as Brently’s friend, not Louise’s friend. It is Richards who finds out about Brently Mallard’s supposed death while at the newspaper office—he sees Brently’s name “leading the list of ‘killed.’” Richards’ main role in “The Story of an Hour” is to kick off the story’s plot. 

Additionally, Richard’s presence at the newspaper office suggests he’s a writer, editor, or otherwise employee of the newspaper (although Chopin leaves this to readers’ inferences). Richards takes enough care to double-check the news and to make sure that Brently’s likely dead. He also enlists Josephine’s help to break the news to Louise. He tries to get to Louise before a “less careful, less tender friend” can break the sad news to her, which suggests that he’s a thoughtful person in his own right. 

It’s also important to note is that Richards is aware of Louise’s heart condition, meaning that he knows Louise Mallard well enough to know of her health and how she is likely to bear grief. He appears again in the story at the very end, when he tries (and fails) to shield Brently from his wife’s view to prevent her heart from reacting badly. While Richards is a background character in the narrative, he demonstrates a high level of friendship, consideration, and care for Louise. 

Brently Mallard would have been riding in a train like this one when the accident supposedly occurred.

  Mr. Brently Mallard is the husband of the main character, Louise. We get few details about him, though readers do know he’s been on a train that has met with a serious accident. For the majority of the story, readers believe Brently Mallard is dead—though the end of “The Story of an Hour” reveals that he’s been alive all along. In fact, Brently doesn’t even know of the railroad tragedy when he arrives home “travel-stained.”

  Immediately after Louise hears the news of his death, she remembers him fondly. She remarks on his “kind, tender hands” and says that Brently “never looked save with love” upon her . It’s not so much Brently as it’s her marriage to him which oppresses Louise. While he apparently always loved Louise, Louise only “sometimes” loved Brently. She constantly felt that he “impose[d] a private will” upon her, as most husbands do their wives. And while she realizes that Brently likely did so without malice, she also realized that “a kind intention or a cruel intention” makes the repression “no less a crime.” 

Brently’s absence in the story does two things. First, it contrasts starkly with Louise’s life of illness and confinement. Second, Brently’s absence allows Louise to imagine a life of freedom outside of the confines of marriage , which gives her hope. In fact, when he appears alive and well (and dashes Louise’s hopes of freedom), she passes away. 

The Doctor(s)

Though the mention of them is brief, the final sentence of the story is striking. Chopin writes, “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease—of the joy that kills.” Just as she had no freedom in life, her liberation from the death of her husband is told as a joy that killed her.

In life as in death, the truth of Louise Mallard is never known. Everything the readers know about her delight in her newfound freedom happens in Louise’s own mind; she never gets the chance to share her secret joy with anyone else.

Consequently, the ending of the story is double-sided. If the doctors are to be believed, Louise Mallard was happy to see her husband, and her heart betrayed her. And outwardly, no one has any reason to suspect otherwise. Her reaction is that of a dutiful, delicate wife who couldn’t bear the shock of her husband returned from the grave. 

But readers can infer that Louise Mallard died of the grief of a freedom she never had , then found, then lost once more. Readers can interpret Louise’s death as her experience of true grief in the story—that for her ideal life, briefly realized then snatched away. 

In "The Story of an Hour," the appearance of hearts symbolize both repression and hope.

“The Story of an Hour” Symbolism and Motifs

  Symbols are any object, word, or other element that appear in the story and have additional meanings beyond. Motifs are elements from a story that gain meaning from being repeated throughout the narrative. The line between symbols and motifs is often hazy, but authors use both to help communicate their ideas and themes. 

  In “The Story of an Hour,” symbolism is everywhere, but the three major symbols present in the story are: 

•   The heart
• The house and the outdoors
• Joy and sorrow

Heart disease, referred to as a “heart condition” within the text, opens and closes the text. The disease is the initial cause for everyone’s concern, since Louise’s condition makes her delicate. Later, heart disease causes Louise’s death upon Brently’s safe return. In this case, Louise’s ailing heart has symbolic value because it suggests to readers that her life has left her heartbroken. When she believes she’s finally found freedom, Louise prays for a long life...when just the day before, she’d “had thought with a shudder that life might be long.”

As Louise realizes her freedom, it’s almost as if her heart sparks back to life. Chopin writes, “Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously...she was striving to beat it back...Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.” These words suggest that, with her newfound freedom, the symptoms of her heart disease have lifted. Readers can surmise that Louise’s diseased heart is the result of being repressed, and hope brings her heart back to life. 

  Unfortunately, when Brently comes back, so does Louise’s heart disease. And, although her death is attributed to joy, the return of her (both symbolic and literal) heart disease kills her in the end. 

The House and the Outdoors

The second set of symbols are Louise’s house and the world she can see outside of her window. Chopin contrasts these two symbolic images to help readers better understand how marriage and repression have affected Louise. 

First of all, Louise is confined to the home—both within the story and in general. For her, however, her home isn’t a place to relax and feel comfortable. It’s more like a prison cell. All of the descriptions of the house reinforce the idea that it’s closed off and inescapable . For instance, the front door is locked when Mr. Mallard returns home. When Mrs. Mallard is overcome with grief, she goes deeper inside her house and locks herself in her room.

In that room, however, Mrs. Mallard takes note of the outdoors by looking out of her window.  Even in her momentary grief, she describes the “open square before her house” and “the new spring life.” The outdoors symbolize freedom in the story, so it’s no surprise that she realizes her newfound freedom as she looks out her window. Everything about the outside is free, beautiful, open, inviting, and pleasant...a stark contrast from the sadness inside the house . 

The house and its differences from outdoors serve as one of many symbols for how Louise feels about her marriage: barred from a world of independence.

Joy and Sorrow

  Finally, joy and sorrow are motifs that come at unexpected times throughout “The Story of an Hour.” Chopin juxtaposes joy and sorrow to highlight how tragedy releases Louise from her sorrow and gives her a joyous hope for the future. 

At first, sorrow appears as Louise mourns the death of her husband. Yet, in just a few paragraphs, she finds joy in the event as she discovers a life of her own. Though Louise is able to see that feeling joy at such an event is “monstrous,” she continues to revel in her happiness. 

  It is later that, when others expect her to be joyful, Josephine lets out a “piercing cry,” and Louise dies. Doctors interpret this as “the joy that kills,” but more likely it’s a sorrow that kills. The reversal of the “appropriate” feelings at each event reveals how counterintuitive the “self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being” is to the surrounding culture. This paradox reveals something staggering about Louise’s married life: she is so unhappy with her situation that grief gives her hope...and she dies when that hope is taken away. 

Key Takeaways: Kate Chopin's “The Story of an Hour” 

Analyzing Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” takes time and careful thought despite the shortness of the story. The story is open to multiple interpretations and has a lot to reveal about women in the 1890s, and many of the story’s themes, characters, and symbols critique women’s marriage roles during the period .

There’s a lot to dig through when it comes to “The Story of an Hour” analysis. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just remember a few things :

• Events from Kate Chopin’s life and from social changes in the 1890s provided a strong basis for the story.
• Mrs. Louise Mallard’s heart condition, house, and feelings represent deeper meanings in the narrative.
• Louise goes from a state of repression, to freedom, and then back to repression, and the thought alone is enough to kill her.

Remembering the key plot points, themes, characters, and symbols will help you write any essay or participate in any discussion. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” has much more to uncover, so read it again, ask questions, and start exploring the story beyond the page!

What’s Next? 

You may have found your way to this article because analyzing literature can be tricky to master. But like any skill, you can improve with practice! First, make sure you have the right tools for the job by learning about literary elements. Start by mastering the 9 elements in every piece of literature , then dig into our element-specific guides (like this one on imagery and this one on personification .)

Another good way to start practicing your analytical skills is to read through additional expert guides like this one. Literary guides can help show you what to look for and explain why certain details are important. You can start with our analysis of Dylan Thomas’ poem, “Do not go gentle into that good night.” We also have longer guides on other words like The Great Gatsby and The Crucible , too.

If you’re preparing to take the AP Literature exam, it’s even more important that you’re able to quickly and accurately analyze a text . Don’t worry, though: we’ve got tons of helpful material for you. First, check out this overview of the AP Literature exam . Once you have a handle on the test, you can start practicing the multiple choice questions , and even take a few full-length practice tests . Oh, and make sure you’re ready for the essay portion of the test by checking out our AP Literature reading list!

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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The Story of an Hour Analysis & Summary – Essay Example

This sample will help you write a The Story of an Hour analysis essay! Here you’ll find a The Story of an Hour summary. Essay also contains a plot and character analysis.

Introduction

The story of an hour introduction, the story of an hour main plot, the story of an hour conclusion, the story of an hour analysis.

The Story of an Hour is a short story written by Kate Chopin in 1894. This famous piece of literature was controversial for its time, as the story mentioned a female protagonist who felt relieved after her husband’s death. The conclusion of The Story of an Hour is ironic, which makes the ending memorable.

The following The Story of an Hour literary analysis essay will summarize the plot and present an extensive character analysis of Mrs. Mallard. It will be helpful for those writing a The Story of an Hour critical analysis.

Kate Chopin (born Catherine O’Flaherty) was an American writer. She is best known for her narratives of delicate and brave women’s inner lives. Her novel “The Awakening” and her short stories, among them The Story of an Hour, are being read in countries all over the world today. She is widely recognized as one of the most important authors in America.

In 1984, Kate Chopin wrote The Story of an Hour. It portrays a woman, Louise Mallard, who lost her husband in an accident. However, she later discovers that the husband survived. Mrs. Mallard goes through many emotions and feelings, reevaluating her life. That ultimately kills her when she meets her presumably dead husband at the door. The following The Story of an Hour essay will focus on the plot and the protagonist’s self-development.

The Story of an Hour Summary

Louise Mallard, the main character, had always had a heart problem. It was not a secret for her friends and relatives, so everyone tried to protect her from worries.

One day her husband, Brently Mallard, was mistaken for having died in a horrible railroad accident. Richard, Mr. Mallard’s friend, was the one who learned about this death while in the office. Josephine, Louise’s sister, broke the news to her.

Josephine was very cautious because of Mrs. Mallard’s health issue. She feared such a tragedy would cause a heart attack. Bit by bit, she strategized how to tell everything to her sister, aher plan went perfectly well. Mrs. Mallard wept only once. She did not receive the story like many women would, with a helpless incapacity to acknowledge its meaning. She only cried in her sister’s arms with a feeling of a sudden, wild abandonment (Woodlief 2).

Immediately Mrs. Mallard found herself wondering how she could survive without her husband. She went to a room and locked herself to contemplate the consequences of his death. She was devastated, and this sadness was only natural. This man had been close to her, even though only for a short time. Her sister Josephine and Mr. Richard also mourned the loss (Taibah 1).

Mrs. Mallard was alone in that room, thinking about the future. As she was contemplating her fate, instead of grief, she began realizing that this was the beginning of a better part of her life. Louise saw independence and plenty of possibilities to do what her heart desired. Now, she had only to think about herself.

Later, Josephine comes to Louise’s room, crying with a joyous smile. They descend the house’s stairs, where Mr. Mallard appears at the door. He was not involved in the accident and did not understand why Josephine was crying. At the shock of seeing her husband again, Mrs. Mallard collapses. The doctors declare that she died because of the problems with her heart.

Health issues of the central character play a significant role in the story. The author managed to bring suspense in the way she described telling the bad news to a person with a heart problem. Josephine, Louise’s sister, tries her best to be careful and attentive, expecting a painful response. However, Mrs. Mallard reacts better than anticipated.

The story focuses mostly on femininity and the institution of marriage. The analysis of The Story of an Hour has to speculate on it to reveal the core message.

The author was able to illustrate that men entirely dominate the institution of marriage. Mr. Mallard, for instance, treated his wife the way she wanted only from time to time. For years, Louise has done many things to please her husband without looking after her well-being. So, having received the disturbing news, she is quite happy. It seemed that she had never cared for her husband at all.

Or did she? Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to the death of a spouse is complicated. She cannot escape the loneliness and grief that came with the loss. But the possibility of happiness prevails. Louise knew that marriage had made her a subject for him against her will. She only felt sorrow for the loss of his life but not for living without him. She felt deep inside that she had been freed from the chains of living for another person.

Mr. Mallard’s apparent death saddened Louise at first. She was devastated about his fate but regained strength quickly. Louise was well aware of the fact that she could not bring her husband back. So, she came to terms with it, which wasn’t difficult. Mrs. Mallard saw beyond the painful moment, anticipating freedom for the rest of her life.

The room and environment around Mrs. Mallard symbolize her desire for freedom. For example, Mrs. Mallard could see the tops of trees through the window. They were all aquiver with the new spring life on the open square before her house. There was a delicious breath of rain in the air. A peddler was weeping his wares in the street below. There were spots of blue sky showing up here and there through the clouds in the west facing her window, which had met and piled up one above the other (Woodlief 1).

An open window could be interpreted as a metaphor. It reflects new possibilities and resources that Mrs. Mallard now had in her sights without anybody stopping her. She referred to it as the late spring of life.

The story reveals how women were secretly marginalized. At the time, society expected them to pursue wealth and safety, which came with a husband. Liberty should be neither their worry nor their goal. When Louise felt freedom after Mr. Mallard’s death, she kept it secret for obvious reasons. But then, her sister arrived.

Mrs. Mallard was shocked by the sight of her husband alive. All of her newfound liberty and dreams came crashing down at that moment. This shattering experience even goes to the extreme of destroying her life. Whereas she was to be happy to see her husband alive, Louise died from a heart attack.

Situational irony is presented in the author’s stylistic use of words: “She had died of heart disease…of the joy that kills.” People around anticipated this tragedy from the news about Mr. Mallard’s death, not miraculous survival.

The author explored the character of Mrs. Mallard throughout this story. The reader can’t be surprised by her sudden death or miss its irony. Louise is a woman with a great desire for independence, which a man has deprived her of through marriage. Mr. Mallard represents the absence of her liberty that restores after his death. When Mrs. Mallard sees her husband at the door once again, she collapses and never wakes up.

Based on this The Story of an Hour literary analysis, we can draw several important conclusions. Mrs. Mallard couldn’t control her emotions when they concerned the most vital matters. The lack of liberty and independence may have caused her heart problems in the first place. And they cost her life in the end.

Her husband, Mr. Mallard, took Louise’s freedom when he married her. However, as it became apparent from the story, he never valued her. When she died, he had finally faced the consequences of always taking her existence for granted.

Therefore, the oppressor faced even worse tragedy than the oppressed. The dramatic irony of Mr. Mallard’s unawareness of his wife’s true feelings towards him is a big part of the story. So, in the end, it was Mr. Mallard’s presence that killed his wife.

• Chopin, Kate. The Story of an hour . The Kate Chopin International Society. Web.
• Woodlief, Ann. The Story of an Hour . 2011, Virginia Commonwealth University. Web.

What is the symbolism in The Story of an Hour?

Through The Story of an Hour, the author presents us with the inner feelings and thoughts of a woman using various symbols. Mrs. Mallard’s heart problem symbolizes her dissatisfaction with the marriage, while the open window illustrates her aspirations towards a better, independent life.

What is the meaning behind The Story of an Hour?

Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour analysis illustrates that the author wanted to tell us how the society of that time was unfair towards women. It also shows the delicate and complicated inner world of a woman.

What does The Story of an Hour critique?

The Story of an Hour criticizes the typical experience of marriage in the 1890s. For women, such marriage was repressive and meant their loss of personal freedoms. Therefore, the story criticizes the society of that time dominated by men.

How do you start a critical analysis of The Story of an Hour?

Start your analysis of The Story of an Hour with a short introduction. Remember to say a few words about its author and her life. Next, talk about the story and let the reader know what it is about.

What are the two main themes in The Story of an Hour?

Firstly, the theme of a female search for self-identity is featured strongly in the story. The second theme is that of repressive marriage. The reader sees it in the way Mrs. Mallard’s reaction toward her husband’s death shifts.

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Read Our 25 Great Ideas on ‘The Story of an Hour’ Essay Topics

Every literary composition has its own meaning. It is difficult to analyze what exactly an author wants to say through their stories. For this purpose, modern students research many classic works such as ‘The Story of an Hour’ by Kate Chopin.

Usually, students think that short stories are easy to analyze, but this can be a false impression. To help with researching ‘The Story of an Hour’ questions and answers, we suggest you pay special attention to the title selection. We present 25 great ideas on ‘The Story of an Hour’ essay topics, which you can use for your own literary research.

‘The Story of an Hour’ Essay Topics

• Choose the most important phrases which you think reveal the point of the story. Briefly describe your choice.
• Analyze characters and their roles in the short story by Kate Chopin ‘The Story of an Hour.’
• What is the main conflict in ‘The Story of an Hour’?
• Language and communication between characters in ‘The Story of an Hour.’
• How does the author reveal the idea of freedom in ‘The Story of an Hour’?
• The main ‘The Story of an Hour’ analysis question reveals the central idea of the story.
• What do scholars and literary critics say about ‘The Story of an Hour’?
• How would Mrs. Mallard react to her husband’s death if Richards and Josephine hadn’t been so delicate in how they explained that Mr. Mallard had died?
• Why do couriers of sad news often end up being blamed for the news itself?
• Would Louise be happy to see her husband alive? Why did she die when she saw him alive?
• How did Kate Chopin deliver the problems of past times in her short story ‘The Story of an Hour’? How likely is it that most marriages of that time were unhappy?
• Would Mr. Mallard regret Mrs. Mallard’s death?
• What was the difference in Louise, Josephine, and Richards’s perception of the message about Mr. Mallard’s death?
• How can different versions of ‘The Story of an Hour’ change the meaning of the story? Analyze the printed and online versions.
• ‘The Story of an Hour’ analysis question of feminism.
• Did Louise Mallard understand what love is? Did the death of her husband help her to understand it?
• What did the message about Mr. Mallard’s death change in Louise Mallard? Did she find the news about her husband’s death without fear or favor?
• What did Richards’s quick motion at the end of the story mean? Did Mrs. Mallard and Richards have a secret relationship?
• What did Louise mean when she said, “Free! Body and soul free!” Did she say this about her dead husband or herself?
• Why did Mr. Mallard never speak during the story?
• Can Louise’s dream about freedom come true in ‘The Story of an Hour’? What kind of freedom is possible for women in the 19th century?
• How is the freedom of all characters limited in ‘The Story of an Hour’?
• What does the sign of Louise’s lock in her room mean?
• Why did the author place all characters in one location in ‘The Story of an Hour’?
• Why did Kate Chopin say that Louise died from joy? What did she really mean?

Even by reading these topics, you can answer a lot of ‘The Story of an Hour’ essay questions. Choose the one you find most interesting and start researching your favorite literature. Otherwise you can buy essays from our writers to save your time and calm your nerves.

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Story of An Hour — Story of an Hour: A Character Analysis

Story of an Hour: a Character Analysis

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The General Theory of Crime

This essay about the General Theory of Crime, formulated by Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi, explores the concept that low self-control is the principal factor behind criminal behavior. The theory argues that self-control is developed primarily during childhood, heavily influenced by the quality of parenting. It suggests that individuals with low self-control are more prone to seek immediate gratification through acts that satisfy desires but violate societal norms, encompassing not only traditional crimes but also behaviors like smoking and reckless driving. The essay also addresses criticisms of the theory, particularly its underestimation of the role of opportunity in crime, and its oversimplification of the diverse factors that influence criminal behavior. Despite these critiques, the theory has significantly impacted criminological research and influenced practical approaches to crime prevention, such as programs that enhance parenting skills or target at-risk youth. The discussion concludes that while the General Theory of Crime provides valuable insights, it also invites further research into the complex interplay between internal dispositions and external circumstances in the context of criminal activity.

How it works

The General Theory Of Crime or The Universal Principle of Criminality, also recognized as the self-restraint hypothesis, posited by Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi in 1990, asserts that deficient self-regulation stands as the primary catalyst for illicit conduct. This proposition contends that the inclination toward criminality stems from inadequacies in one’s capacity to curb impulses that gratify immediate desires but transgress societal standards. This treatise delves into the underpinnings of The General Theory Of Crime, its ramifications for comprehending criminal conduct, and the critiques it encounters.

Gottfredson and Hirschi’s hypothesis accentuates that the genesis of criminality can be retraced to an individual’s infancy, wherein self-restraint predominantly germinates. As per their assertion, the crux of fostering robust self-regulation resides in efficacious parenting during the formative years. They posit that guardians who vigilantly monitor their offspring’s demeanor, discern deviant conduct, and administer suitable punitive measures aid in instilling self-restraint in their progeny. Those bereft of such nurturing are predisposed to cultivating low self-regulation and hence are more susceptible to the allure of immediate gratification that criminal acts proffer.

Moreover, the Universal Principle of Criminality extends its purview beyond conventional criminality, proffering explications for analogous behaviors that are not inherently illicit but are generally deemed undesirable, such as tobacco use, gambling, and heedless driving. This expansive applicability represents a notable forte of the hypothesis, endeavoring to elucidate a diverse array of behaviors through a singular, overarching mechanism.

Nevertheless, the hypothesis is not devoid of detractors. A prominent reproach is its purported oversight of the role of opportunity in criminal conduct. Opponents contend that possessing low self-restraint does not inexorably culminate in criminality unless avenues for engaging in illicit activities present themselves. Furthermore, the hypothesis has been impugned for its incapacity to elucidate the disparities in crime rates across disparate demographics and locales. Detractors suggest that the hypothesis oversimplifies the intricate tapestry of human conduct and the myriad societal, economic, and interpersonal factors that impact the propensity for criminality.

Another contentious facet is the hypothesis’s accentuation on parenting and early developmental phases. Some scholars posit that this perspective diminishes the potential for individual evolution over time and fails to factor in the prospect of individuals cultivating heightened self-regulation as they mature or as their circumstances evolve. Additionally, the hypothesis’s fixation on the familial milieu as the preeminent font of self-restraint has been construed as disregarding the conceivable influence of broader societal or communal milieus.

Notwithstanding these criticisms, The General Theory Of Crime has wielded considerable influence on both criminological doctrine and criminal justice policies. It has catalyzed further inquiry into the correlation between self-restraint and criminal conduct and has left an indelible imprint on crime prevention methodologies. Initiatives aimed at enhancing parental competencies or furnishing early intervention for vulnerable juveniles exemplify how this hypothesis has transcended scholarly discourse and found tangible application.

In summation, while The General Theory Of Crime furnishes a compelling paradigm for elucidating and prognosticating criminal conduct predicated on the notion of self-restraint, it is not bereft of shortcomings. Its concentration on internal cognitive processes furnishes invaluable insights but also mandates contemplation of external influences that might intersect with or modulate these processes. Analogous to myriad theories in the social sciences, its genuine worth might reside in its capacity to incite further deliberation, scrutiny, and refinement in our perpetual endeavor to apprehend the intricacies of criminal conduct.

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Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” Criticism Essay

Generally, literary experts – namely, authors, poets, and playwrights – create fictional works that reflect the regimes they live in. In other words, most literary fictional works reflect the prevailing socioeconomic and political realities of their creators. Similarly, literary experts may develop fictional works that reflect their personal experiences. Through their works, literary experts thus explore various aspects of their life experiences. By examining the events going on at the time of creating their works, literary experts satisfy the rules of historicism. In addition, literary experts reflect their personal experiences through their works. In other words, historicism has to do with how literary works reflect the reality of the time period in which they are created. Historicism is reflected in Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour narrative. To expound, this tale reflects certain aspects of the author’s life experiences. By making the concept of death a central feature in the narrative, Chopin reflects the various deaths that characterized her life. The narrative is about a certain lady’s perplexing response after receiving news of the sudden demise of her husband. The woman’s response indicates an inclination towards feminism. This idea is evident through the woman’s defiant stance towards her husband’s demise. It is as if the lady defies social conventions about female subordination. Toward the close of the 19 th century (1894), when the narrative was authored, the concept of feminism was emerging. This development could have inspired Chopin’s portrayal of the lady. In addition, Chopin mostly grew up in a female-dominated society, hence her inclination to advocate for female empowerment (Jacobus 63). The author was mostly mentored by female characters, an experience that could have inspired her to value female supremacy as is evident in the narrative. All in all, it is clear that Chopin’s The Story of an Hour narrative depicts historicism since it dwells on death as it gravitates towards female empowerment, aspects that were real in the author’s personal life as well as in the society at the time the tale was written.

To illustrate, The Story of an Hour narrative is based on the supposed death of Brentley Mallard – the husband to Louise Mallard – thus reflecting a number of real life deaths that characterized Chopin’s life. In 1855, when the author was just 5 years old, her father died in a rail accident. This death was significant to Chopin. The death is reflected in the narrative through Brentley’s sudden death. Just like Louise – Brentley’s wife – is suddenly made a widow in the narrative, Chopin was made an orphan by her father’s death. Later, death stalked Chopin by claiming her great grandmother to which the great granddaughter had become very close (Toth 22). This real life death is reflected in The Story of an Hour narrative through Brentley’s death that somehow brings grief to Louise – the widow. Afterwards, Chopin felt the sting of death when her half-brother succumbed to typhoid fever. In the tale, Brentley’s death represents the demise of Chopin’s half-brother. Another death, arguably the most devastating, denied Chopin the company of Oscar Chopin – the author’s husband – when Oscar succumbed to malaria in 1882. This demise, which made Chopin a widow at a young age of thirty-two years, marked the turning point of the author’s life as it left her with the responsibility of taking care of the couple’s six children – one daughter and 5 sons (Toth 65). In The Story of an Hour narrative, Louise feels a similar loss after Brentley dies. The foregoing discourse proves that Chopin’s life was characterized by a number of deaths which claimed some of her closest relatives. It can thus be plausibly argued that the concept of death was very real to the author. This idea could explain why Chopin chose to base The Story of an Hour narrative on the supposed demise of Brentley. The horror of losing a close associate thus comes into play through the tale. Such a phenomenon validates the argument that Chopin’s tale has a historical leaning.

In addition, at the time Chopin was writing The Story of an Hour narrative, a wave of feminism was sweeping across the American social and economic landscape. The influence of this historical time period on the author’s ideas and general world view is clearly evident through the characterization of Louise – a woman who has supposedly lost her husband through death. To illustrate, after Louise learns about Brentley’s supposed death, the lady does not seem to view this as a sad or negative event. Instead of descending into a state of weeping, she goes upstairs, sits herself into a comfortable chair, and enters into a reverie of the wonderful time before her. Chopin makes readers to gain access to Louise’s thoughts which indicate that the wife has been suffering under her husband’s dominion. This phenomenon paints a picture of a patriarchal society that seriously subjugates women. For example, Louise is happy that she will be able to live a life of her own. Further, the supposedly widowed lady thinks that marriage should not make mates captives of each other. Instead, she is of the idea that marriage couples should have space to exercise their respective discrete freedoms. Such thoughts demonstrate that Louise eagerly wants to free herself from the yoke imposed on her by the patriarchal social arrangement (Kahle 12). Clearly, the supposed widow’s ideas resonate with the late 19 th century feminist movement that sought to emancipate women. This idea thus proves that Chopin was heavily influenced by the socioeconomic and political developments prevalent in her era as she wrote The Story of an Hour narrative.

Further, the feminist influences that were prevalent during Chopin’s formative years are explicitly depicted through The Story of an Hour narrative. To expound, most of the author’s mentors were women. These ladies – including Chopin’s great grandmother, grandmother, and mother – were thus cardinal reference points for Chopin’s entire life. Further, the author later enrolled at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Saint Louis where all tutors were ladies (Toth 54). The student’s interaction with her female teachers thus made her to develop an inclination towards female empowerment. Considering that these were Chopin’s formative years, the various female mentors had a profound influence on her life. This idea is vindicated through the author’s characterization of Louise in The Story of an Hour narrative. To illustrate, Louise is a lady who espouses the idea that women can successfully exist without men. The character’s actions and utterances authenticate this contention. It is vital to note that following the alleged death of Brentley, Louise feels as though she has experienced a rebirth. She is of the idea that Brentley’s demise has permitted her access to the elixir of life. Through such musings, Louise demonstrates her feminist convictions; she thinks she can enjoy a life of better quality after Brentley’s demise (Bendixen and Nagel 206). The fact that Louise is not fidgety or agitated also indicates her pessimism; she thinks that her life will be excellent. These are ideas that Chopin derived from the prevailing feminist ideologies of her time. The influence of historical influences on Chopin’s The Story of an Hour narrative is thus clearly evident.

In summary, through her The Story of an Hour narrative, Chopin proves that she was influenced by her life experiences as well as historical events such as the late 19 th century feminist movement. To illustrate, the narrative revolves around the death of Brentley, thus reflecting the many deaths that characterized Chopin’s life. While aged 5 years, Chopin lost her father. Afterwards, the author went through the deaths of her great grandmother, her half-brother, as well as her husband. Further, the author indicates that Louise is a woman who ardently desires to break free from male domination. Consequently, Louise celebrates Brentley’s death. The supposedly widowed lady depicts behaviors that clearly belie the seriousness of the incident. This view is representative of the feminist wave that was prevalent at the time Chopin authored the narrative. In addition, the female influences of the author during her formative years are evident through the dispositions of Louise. The allegedly widowed lady does not significantly flinch after receiving news of her husband’s demise. This idea is reflective of the fact that most of Chopin’s mentors were women. The author thus holds that women can successfully live without men. The influence of historical happenings on the authors’ life is thus clearly evident through The Story of an Hour tale.

Works Cited

Bendixen, Alfred and Nagel, James. A Companion to the American Short Story . Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, 2010. Print.

Jacobus, Lee Alfred. Literature . Toronto, Canada: Pearson Education Canada, 1996. Print.

Kahle, Antje. First Wave of Feminism in Politics and Literature . Munich, Germany: GRIN Verlag, 2010. Print.

Toth, Emily. Unveiling Kate Chopin . Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi, 1999. Print.

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Intense standoff prompts large police presence in northern Kentucky

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