One key point in “The Story of an Hour” written byKate Chopin that I found surprising was that Mrs. Mallard feels a sense offreedom after learning about her husband’s death. Mrs.
Mallard finally feelsthis warm sense of freedom that she did not have before. She no longer feelslike she is only living for her husband but for herself. After reading thisshort story, I found myself empathizing with Mrs.
Mallard. For the first timein her life “there would be no powerful will bending hers in that blindpersistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose aprivate will upon a fellow creature.” (Chopin 57) In other words, Mrs.Mallard no longer feels weighed down by her marriage, she now has the opportunityto decide on what she wants to do with her new life. I cansee why Mrs.
Mallard started to feel the warm sense of freedom, happiness, andexcited when her husband passed. The opportunity to make your own decision whenyou want to on your own time is something that is fulfilling. I can relate tothat, looking back when I graduated high school and was off to college. I tooka major step in my life deciding to go to college and pursue my futureeducation and later on, a career. I too got that same warm sensation of freedomthat Mrs. Mallard felt. The chance to decide what classes I want to take, thetime I want to take them, and the days in which I go to school. If you take astep back and put yourself in Mrs.
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Mallards shoes, you too would feel the warmsensation of freedom that she felt. The chance to make your life great and tohave fun in doing it. Presently, I am free to do what I want with my educationand having that makes me feel powerful. Having authority and control in thedictions that I make is what I want and is what Mrs.
Mallard seeks. Moreover,a sentence from the story really speaks to me and effects my point of view onhow I perceive the world. “there would be no powerful will bending hers in thatblind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to imposea private will upon a fellow creature” (Chopin 57). This quote from thepassage gives light to the idea that men in that era were in fact dominate inthe relationships. “The Story of an Hour” Takes place in the late 1800s.
A timewere women were trapped inside their homes and answered to men. Imagine beingmarried to your husband and him telling you to stay home and take care of thehouse tasks. For example, cooking, cleaning, washing the clothes, havingchildren, and taking care of the family emotionally. Women in the 1800s wereall forced to be submissive to their husbands.
Women had no rights, no say inwhat they can and cannot do. It was as if their role was already predestinedfor them before they even knew it. Fast forward to today’s society and this isstill happening. Women typically are the submissive ones were males are moremasculine showing dominance in the relationship. Of course, it has changed overthe years where it may not be the case as often but it is still there. I feelas though women have all the right to have the freedom to do as they pleasewhen they please.
Who am I to tell a woman she cannot be a fire fighter or a constructionworker? I believe it is wrong to objectify women. To see them only as potentialbaby carriers or house cleaners or food preparers. Women are so much more thanthat and Mrs. Mallard in the short story found her freedom. In Addition, my views and opinionsremained unchanged. Take this quote for example, “she knew that she would weepagain when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that hadnever looked save with love upon her”. (Chopin 57) Mrs. Mallard knewthat when she saw her husband for the last time laying in a casket that shewould cry.
We can see that she did in fact have feelings for her partner andeven in his death she still loved him. However, “she saw beyond that bittermoment of years to come that would belong to her absolutely, and she opened herarms out to them in welcome.” (Chopin 57) With this beingsaid, she is starting to open her eyes and see that even in her husband’s deathshe can move on with her life.
She is now free to do what she wants, when shewants. That quote specially communicated with me in the sense that it was anawakening for her to get out of a relationship that wasn’t doing her any good.Think about all the women who see themselves “stuck” or “content” in theirrelationships.
