Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour - A Big Story in a Small Space :: The Story of an Hour

Story of an Hour A Big Story in a Small Space Kate Chopins Story of an Hour, tells the composition of a woman trapped in a repressive marriage, who wants desperately to escape. She is minded(p) that chance, quite by accident, and the story tells of the hour in which this freedom is inc parameterd her. The story is very short (only two pages), so is interesting to facet at as a minimalist piece of literature, and the surprise result offers an opportunity to look at Chopins use of foreshadowing. The story is very short, still every word has import in the story and each line has great depth of meaning. It is possible to infer a great lead about the womans life, even though we are given very wee on the surface. A telegraph and a railroad are mentioned in the first paragraph, so there is some idea of the time the story takes place. We are in like manner given her married find and the full pertain of her husband. The fact that she is referred to only as Mrs. mallard, while h er husbands full name is given, coupled with what we learn on the second page, gives some indication of the repression shes had to prolong through and the indignity society placed on woman in those times. We also learn in the first paragraph that she lives in a mans world, for, though it is her sister that tells her the news, it is her husbands friend who rushes over with the story. Even after his death, she is confined to the structures she follow with married life, including the close friends of her husband. It can also be assumed that Brently Mallard was fairly well off, because they live in a home with an upstairs, lucky furnishings, and he has occasion and reason to travel. Also, they can afford a doctors diagnosing that she has a heart condition. The most important idea that is conveyed in the story is summed up in two sentences, near the end of the story, there would be no powerful will bending hers in that screen persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to lower a private will upon a fellow-creature. A kind end or a cruel intention made the act face no less a crime as she looked upon it in that outline moment of illumination.