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Literary criticism of the 'Story of an hour'
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The author Kate Chopin describes how character in \\\"The story of an hour\\\", Louise Mallard, discovers personal freedom while she sits alone in her room, after having heard of her husband\\\'s death then her emotional \\\"storm\\\" has subsided. It is a story of how a woman deals with marital oppression in the late Victorian American society of the 19th century.
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Literary Criticism of ‘The Story of an Hour`
Outline
This paper is a literary criticism of Kate Chopin`s ‘Story of the Hour`. This story has a central character Mrs Mallard, who over the course of an hour, transforms. Mrs Mallard is confronted with the news that her husband has passed away in a railway accident. Mrs Mallard lets go of her grief with abandon and it becomes her catharsis and she starts accepting her fate as a widow uncharacteristically easily for the times.
The story has been analysed in accordance with the historical perspective which were tough times for women, and women were confined to a certain role that they had to play in society. Women were expected to submit to the wills and the wishes of their family and of the society. Widowhood was a way to get to a position in society by getting a legal position through marriage, and once the husband was dead, the woman could live according to her will.
This paper also looks at the story from a feminist perspective as well as a psychological perspective and elevates the story from being a mere short story to a clue into the lives of women at the time.
Introduction
Victorian society has been known for being conservatism, and females in that society were mainly confined to their homes, and were completely dependent on their husbands financially, as well as otherwise.
The short story by Kate Chopin - "The story of an hour", is a description of how Louise Mallard, discovers personal freedom while she sits alone in her room, after having heard of her husband's death then her emotional "storm" has subsided. It is a story of how a woman deals with marital oppression in the late Victorian American society of the 19th century.
Synopsis of the Story
The story begins with the news of the death of Brently Mallard, who has been in a rail accident. Mallard`s friend Richards hears about the news and rushed to his dead friend`s wife in order to tell her about the news. The story indicates at the onset that Mrs. Mallard is a heart patient, and that Richards, aware of this fact, does not want anyone else to break the news to her. Mrs Mallard cries immediately, after which she retires to her room, and reflects upon the significance of this new development. In her self-reflection, she comes to realize that life has started anew for her, and that the death of her husband is not the end of her life.
She wishes that her life should be long so that she can enjoy the status of freedom that comes from having no one to live for. In being a widow she would be able to do everything and anything that she pleased without having to listen to another soul.
Her new sense of self and freedom is short-lived because as she descends the stairs with her sister, who has broken the news to her, she finds that her husband is alive, and she dies of a heart failure.
Literary Criticism - Historical Perspective
The historical perspective indicates that literary works be analysed in accordance with the time period in which they were written. Kate Chopin`s story was published in 1894, and up until then Kate Chopin had produced several works that were published CITATION Lar01 \l 1033 (Larsson and Erskine.). However, Kate was ahead of her time, so that when she published a novel on female individuality, people, generally male, was scandalized and gave a host of negative reviews which served as a shock to the author. This furore over her opinions was based in the entrenched value systems of the time so that the published comments, which were male - as mainly men had their works published, were expected CITATION Jam09 \l 1033 (Jamil).
Literary Criticism - Feminist Perspective
The feminist perspective in the story is apparent as Kate Chopin has illustrated a case of a woman who feels liberated at her husband`s death. Victorian times confined women to their homes, and males at the time did not think of women as being capable of doing much. The heart condition is indicative of the fact that women were considered weak. With authors such as Kate Chopin writing about a woman`s feelings in this regard are indicative of the emergence of women`s consciousness of their own selves.
The story has a feminist angle because feminism is against the institution of marriage, considering it detrimental to women. Kate Chopin doesn`t directly criticize the institution of marriage, but provides a different perspective to marriage, which implies that marriage trapped a woman`s individuality.
The feminist perspective can also be considered here in conjunction with the Marxist perspective of conflict, where it can be seen that men were subjugating women and exploiting them through the gender divide and gender-based expectations of action. Marxist theory talks about class conflict, and of one class oppressing the other, which is how the males were oppressing their wives and restraining them through giving them behavioural advice, and making them stick to their pre-defined roles.
Through Louise the relief felt by a woman comes to life, and Kate Chopin has indicated this by using phrases and a short story that resounds in the readers mind long after it has been read.
Literary Criticism - Psychological Perspective
Kate Chopin`s story alludes to Freudian theory of the subconscious when she narrates that Louise could feel something coming toward her and she accepted it guiltily at first CITATION Car11 \l 1033 (Rabstejnek). This indicates that Louise was not consciously aware of the freedom that her marriage was lacking, but once her husband died her subconscious sent a message to her conscious, and it translated physically into ‘the blood carousing through her veins`.
The psychological perspective is reminiscent of the times because there were not many theories as there are today for a writer to draw from. Moreover it seems that the author was looking at the way her own life was as a widow and was writing a biographical account of her life in the annals of her story. The ironic twist at the end is also reflective of the subconscious directing the actions of the conscious.
Louse is reflecting on her life as a widow and although she was consciously happy, there was something that was restraining her from being a free individual and it was the shackles of marriage.
Characterization of Victorian Dispositions
The characters in the story all have Victorian dispositions, be it Richards who acts valiantly in hurrying to break the news of his friend`s death gently, to Mrs Mallard`s sister. Mrs Mallard; however, takes the news well, and cries immediately, which is significant because it symbolizes a sort of catharsis where the woman cleanses out her emotions swiftly. The author has used the word ‘wild abandon` to describe the manner in which Mrs.Mallard cried, as women in the Victorian ages were reserved and were trained to control their emotions. Therefore ‘wild abandon` for readers of the time at which this story was published CITATION Eva06 \l 1033 (Evans) (1894), would refer to uncontrollable crying, which was not the usual fare at the time.
The story`s opening paragraph is also significant of the mannerisms of the time, as Richards; felt that it was his gentlemanly duty to break the sad news of his friend`s death, to his friend`s widow, which is why he rushed to tell her in a manner as gentle as possible. Moreover, the mention of the railways and the telegraph is indicative of the modes of communications at the time, and this also gives the historical context of the story CITATION Eva06 \l 1033 (Evans).
Mrs Mallard to Louise
When she retires to her room, having been spent of her grief, she starts to realize that after this she will have a free life, a life that will not be dominated by another person`s choices, no matter how well-intentioned they may be. "There would be no powerful will bending hers … impose a private will upon a fellow-creature." This paragraph outlines Kate Chopin`s own perspective of life, as the author herself was a young widow and chose not to remarry. Moreover, the author was brought up by her widow mother and was influenced by her highly independent character, so that she felt that a woman could only truly discover herself in the absence of her husband CITATION Dil99 \l 1033 (Dillon).
This train of thought can be likened to feminist schools of thought today, which feel that marriage is actually a means of having a woman serve a man. For most women in this day and age, the concept seems a little ambiguous, but when studied from the perspective of the Victorian age, women were assumed to have a weak mind, and were constantly reminded of their duties through articles in papers and journals written by males in authority. The sad state of affairs was so deeply entrenched, that from the moment a female child was born to a family, the child was taught to submit. Moreover, there were differences in the ways that the parents treated their children, so that boys were allowed to, and were well-liked when they performed ill-mannered and questioning acts, whereas girls were encouraged to submit their will CITATION Mab86 \l 1033 (Donnelly).
A woman after marriage was only taken seriously if she was married to a head of the household, and even then she had to completely relinquish any authority that she may have to the male head of the house. In this respect, unmarried women, or spinsters were treated with sympathy and were treated as outcasts CITATION Ola \l 1033 (Hellerstein, Erna and Hume). Widows on the other hand, had Mother Nat...
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Literary Criticism of ‘The Story of an Hour`
Outline
This paper is a literary criticism of Kate Chopin`s ‘Story of the Hour`. This story has a central character Mrs Mallard, who over the course of an hour, transforms. Mrs Mallard is confronted with the news that her husband has passed away in a railway accident. Mrs Mallard lets go of her grief with abandon and it becomes her catharsis and she starts accepting her fate as a widow uncharacteristically easily for the times.
The story has been analysed in accordance with the historical perspective which were tough times for women, and women were confined to a certain role that they had to play in society. Women were expected to submit to the wills and the wishes of their family and of the society. Widowhood was a way to get to a position in society by getting a legal position through marriage, and once the husband was dead, the woman could live according to her will.
This paper also looks at the story from a feminist perspective as well as a psychological perspective and elevates the story from being a mere short story to a clue into the lives of women at the time.
Introduction
Victorian society has been known for being conservatism, and females in that society were mainly confined to their homes, and were completely dependent on their husbands financially, as well as otherwise.
The short story by Kate Chopin - "The story of an hour", is a description of how Louise Mallard, discovers personal freedom while she sits alone in her room, after having heard of her husband's death then her emotional "storm" has subsided. It is a story of how a woman deals with marital oppression in the late Victorian American society of the 19th century.
Synopsis of the Story
The story begins with the news of the death of Brently Mallard, who has been in a rail accident. Mallard`s friend Richards hears about the news and rushed to his dead friend`s wife in order to tell her about the news. The story indicates at the onset that Mrs. Mallard is a heart patient, and that Richards, aware of this fact, does not want anyone else to break the news to her. Mrs Mallard cries immediately, after which she retires to her room, and reflects upon the significance of this new development. In her self-reflection, she comes to realize that life has started anew for her, and that the death of her husband is not the end of her life.
She wishes that her life should be long so that she can enjoy the status of freedom that comes from having no one to live for. In being a widow she would be able to do everything and anything that she pleased without having to listen to another soul.
Her new sense of self and freedom is short-lived because as she descends the stairs with her sister, who has broken the news to her, she finds that her husband is alive, and she dies of a heart failure.
Literary Criticism - Historical Perspective
The historical perspective indicates that literary works be analysed in accordance with the time period in which they were written. Kate Chopin`s story was published in 1894, and up until then Kate Chopin had produced several works that were published CITATION Lar01 \l 1033 (Larsson and Erskine.). However, Kate was ahead of her time, so that when she published a novel on female individuality, people, generally male, was scandalized and gave a host of negative reviews which served as a shock to the author. This furore over her opinions was based in the entrenched value systems of the time so that the published comments, which were male - as mainly men had their works published, were expected CITATION Jam09 \l 1033 (Jamil).
Literary Criticism - Feminist Perspective
The feminist perspective in the story is apparent as Kate Chopin has illustrated a case of a woman who feels liberated at her husband`s death. Victorian times confined women to their homes, and males at the time did not think of women as being capable of doing much. The heart condition is indicative of the fact that women were considered weak. With authors such as Kate Chopin writing about a woman`s feelings in this regard are indicative of the emergence of women`s consciousness of their own selves.
The story has a feminist angle because feminism is against the institution of marriage, considering it detrimental to women. Kate Chopin doesn`t directly criticize the institution of marriage, but provides a different perspective to marriage, which implies that marriage trapped a woman`s individuality.
The feminist perspective can also be considered here in conjunction with the Marxist perspective of conflict, where it can be seen that men were subjugating women and exploiting them through the gender divide and gender-based expectations of action. Marxist theory talks about class conflict, and of one class oppressing the other, which is how the males were oppressing their wives and restraining them through giving them behavioural advice, and making them stick to their pre-defined roles.
Through Louise the relief felt by a woman comes to life, and Kate Chopin has indicated this by using phrases and a short story that resounds in the readers mind long after it has been read.
Literary Criticism - Psychological Perspective
Kate Chopin`s story alludes to Freudian theory of the subconscious when she narrates that Louise could feel something coming toward her and she accepted it guiltily at first CITATION Car11 \l 1033 (Rabstejnek). This indicates that Louise was not consciously aware of the freedom that her marriage was lacking, but once her husband died her subconscious sent a message to her conscious, and it translated physically into ‘the blood carousing through her veins`.
The psychological perspective is reminiscent of the times because there were not many theories as there are today for a writer to draw from. Moreover it seems that the author was looking at the way her own life was as a widow and was writing a biographical account of her life in the annals of her story. The ironic twist at the end is also reflective of the subconscious directing the actions of the conscious.
Louse is reflecting on her life as a widow and although she was consciously happy, there was something that was restraining her from being a free individual and it was the shackles of marriage.
Characterization of Victorian Dispositions
The characters in the story all have Victorian dispositions, be it Richards who acts valiantly in hurrying to break the news of his friend`s death gently, to Mrs Mallard`s sister. Mrs Mallard; however, takes the news well, and cries immediately, which is significant because it symbolizes a sort of catharsis where the woman cleanses out her emotions swiftly. The author has used the word ‘wild abandon` to describe the manner in which Mrs.Mallard cried, as women in the Victorian ages were reserved and were trained to control their emotions. Therefore ‘wild abandon` for readers of the time at which this story was published CITATION Eva06 \l 1033 (Evans) (1894), would refer to uncontrollable crying, which was not the usual fare at the time.
The story`s opening paragraph is also significant of the mannerisms of the time, as Richards; felt that it was his gentlemanly duty to break the sad news of his friend`s death, to his friend`s widow, which is why he rushed to tell her in a manner as gentle as possible. Moreover, the mention of the railways and the telegraph is indicative of the modes of communications at the time, and this also gives the historical context of the story CITATION Eva06 \l 1033 (Evans).
Mrs Mallard to Louise
When she retires to her room, having been spent of her grief, she starts to realize that after this she will have a free life, a life that will not be dominated by another person`s choices, no matter how well-intentioned they may be. "There would be no powerful will bending hers … impose a private will upon a fellow-creature." This paragraph outlines Kate Chopin`s own perspective of life, as the author herself was a young widow and chose not to remarry. Moreover, the author was brought up by her widow mother and was influenced by her highly independent character, so that she felt that a woman could only truly discover herself in the absence of her husband CITATION Dil99 \l 1033 (Dillon).
This train of thought can be likened to feminist schools of thought today, which feel that marriage is actually a means of having a woman serve a man. For most women in this day and age, the concept seems a little ambiguous, but when studied from the perspective of the Victorian age, women were assumed to have a weak mind, and were constantly reminded of their duties through articles in papers and journals written by males in authority. The sad state of affairs was so deeply entrenched, that from the moment a female child was born to a family, the child was taught to submit. Moreover, there were differences in the ways that the parents treated their children, so that boys were allowed to, and were well-liked when they performed ill-mannered and questioning acts, whereas girls were encouraged to submit their will CITATION Mab86 \l 1033 (Donnelly).
A woman after marriage was only taken seriously if she was married to a head of the household, and even then she had to completely relinquish any authority that she may have to the male head of the house. In this respect, unmarried women, or spinsters were treated with sympathy and were treated as outcasts CITATION Ola \l 1033 (Hellerstein, Erna and Hume). Widows on the other hand, had Mother Nat...
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