PLEASE NOTE: In April, we will be reading Freshwater by author Akwaeke Emezi.
Here is her biography: Akwaeke Emezi .
To obtain a copy of this book, please fill out the following form so that a copy can be mailed to your address (on the form you can also arrange to pick the book up in my office in Namm 503).
Book Mailing Request Form for Online Students
Emezi will be our featured speaker at this year’s Literary Arts Festival on April 27, 2023 (in our new theatre), which I hope you can attend.
The Festival includes the 2023 Literary Arts Festival Writing Competition, which is now open for submissions! Students may submit their work on the City Tech Literary Arts Festival OpenLab website:
https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/literaryartsfestival/submission-guidelines/
All creative work is welcome and must be submitted by March 20, 2023.
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Students:
Thank you for your insightful readings of the poetry Paul Laurence Dunbar and his wife Alice.
As you noted, the Dunbars lived challenging personal lives in a society that mistreated African Americans. This situation was particularly hard for those that strove to make a living as artists.
We will continue these themes when we encounter the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and again in Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi (please be sure to get your copy of the book!).
This week, I want to focus on the fight for women’s rights that also took place in the 1880s and 1890s.
Two giant figures in this societal battle were the writers Kate Chopin and Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
Please watch their biographies below:
Below are one short and one longish story written by each.
By Gilman:
“The Yellow Wallpaper” (1892)
By Chopin
“Story of an Hour” (1894) (respond to one of the highlighted notations)
“The Storm” (1898)
Post Assignment (Due: Monday, March 6)
Choose one story to discuss in terms of the elements of literature:
Review: Elements of Fiction
BE SURE TO READ THE STUDENT POSTS THAT COME BEFORE YOURS. IF YOU WRITE ON A STORY ANOTHER STUDENT HAS WRITTEN, REPLY TO THAT STUDENT’S POINT (EXPANDING ON IT) OR COMMENT ON A DIFFERENT ASPECT OF THE STORY. I’M HOPING TO END UP WITH EXTENDED READINGS OF ALL FOUR STORIES, SO STRIVE TO AVOID REPETITION
Here are some of the elements you can focus on, in simpler terms:
Genre: discuss your story as a “realistic” or “realist” text
Theme: How does the story convey the lack of rights and confinement of women in the 19th century?
Imagery: Choose a carefully described scene from one of the stories. What is the larger meaning of the imagery?
Characterization: What are the defining traits of the main (or minor) characters – especially interesting in “If I Were a Man.”
Plot (the storyline): Is the story unusual in some way? Is there a surprise ending?
Use of irony: Discuss how the reader understands something a character doesn’t.
Symbolism (something that stands for something else): Consider, for example, the color yellow, the storm, a man’s pockets, crawling, a bedroom with locked windows, etc.
Setting: Consider the significance of the time, the place (room), the location of a story, the weather.
Use of Language: Consider the aesthetics of the story– use of comparisons (metaphors and similes), carefully chosen words.
“The Storm” features 5 characters: Bobinôt, Bibi, Calixta, Alcée, and Clarissa. The short story is set in the late 19th-century at Friedheimer’s store in Louisiana and at the nearby house of Calixta and Bobinôt. It represents three literal elements: Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory. Chopin uses setting as a catalyst to this action, a parallel to the passion between the characters, and as a key to the theme of the story. Setting in this story is the catalyst to the passion that occurs between Alcee and Calixta. The storm parallels Calixta and Alcée passion and affair in its rising intensity, climax, and conclusion. Like a thunderstorm, Chopin suggests that their affair is intense, but also potentially destructive and passing. If Bobinôt came home while Calixta and Alcée were still together, that scene would have damaged their marriage and Alcée and Clarissa’s marriage. Thus, Alcée leaves right after the storms ends, acknowledging that this was a one-time, heat of the moment incident. Chopin’s use of symbolism, with nature imagery enables readers to explore the new realms of literature by attempting to teach emotional lessons. To focus on the social, emotional and sexual suppression of women in patriarchal society, Chopin often resorts to an entirely different way that makes her female characters select their own way. Foreshadowing is one of the quite common literary devices which writers adopt in predicting the goodness and evilness of the future. Kate Chopin uses the figure of blue sky as an effective symbol of freedom and a carefree life in future. Author portrays the transformation of Mrs. Mallard’s mind with the help of various scenes such as flowered trees, the blue sky and the sweet songs of birds. Chopin uses various images to reveal the tragedy of the heroine, Mrs. Mallard. The open window, flowered trees and the doctor’s reaction are different images which reveal symbolism. Chopin encourages the reader to believe the fact that Mrs. Mallard is not immoral. In other words, a reader can see the author succeeded to portray the submissive life of the heroine. The phrase”countless sparrows” reveals the thirst of the protagonist to be free. Images of open and closed windows are powerful images which reveal the social status of women. To conclude, one can identify the use of a lot of imagery and symbolisms in the short story which makes the story really attractive to the readers.
Eleonora,
Wow, what a well laid out and thoughtful response to The Storm. I was particularly impressed with your keen ability to immediately distinguish different elements of the story: “Symbolism, Imagery, and Allegory.” I say that because it’s not always so readily apparent and it takes critical thought to recognize. Good job!
-Jamil
Wow, Wow, Wow, Ms Eleanora, i was definitely on track to read the other author until i read this summary put together by you! Your associations and descriptive text both amplified my curiosity and intensified my interest as i sought to experience the perceptions you presented!
Excellent start to our conversation on these great stories, Eleonora.
This was definitely well explained. I am very impressed with your point of view right after reading the stories. “The Storm” is very impressive how you were able to develop many elements throughout the story like Imagery. Also, not everyone can be able to define many elements as you did so very well done. I really didn’t have to add much since everything touches where I wanted.
The first thing that pops out at me in Kate Chopin’s The Story of An Hour was the very beginning. The scene where Mrs. Mallard’s sister and her husband’s friend Richard initially treated Mrs. Mallard when telling her the news of her husband’s death. It felt unreasonably gentle, as if she wouldn’t be able to handle such news with a proportionate level of expressed grief otherwise. Chopin goes on to narrate how many women at the time (dealing with feelings of grief) typically demonstrated a “paralyzed inability to accept its significance.” This to me speaks to much broader patriarchal and societal ideas/stereotypes that dictate and influence how women responded to all sorts of things at that time. This story is also surprisingly steeped in symbolism. When she hears of her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard has a sudden and overwhelming expression of sadness and then immediately goes upstairs to be in a room alone. Chopin describes Mrs. Mallards sobbing and shaking as that of a child who has cried itself to sleep and continues to sob in its dreams. This to me is both symbolic and a simile. Another symbol to note, something tells me Mrs. Mallard’s heart problem was somehow symbolic of her uncertainty and feelings of unhappiness in her marriage. This is evident immediately after having both a physical and emotional outburst of elation concerning her new found freedom and independence. When her sister comes to get her from the room bearing good news, her heart rate and blood flow are still elevated from positive feelings. Then, in a sudden plot twist, her husband walks through the door having never even gotten into an accident or dying. Mrs. Mallard immediately drops dead right then and there. What’s so ironic about this however, is that the doctor said she died from overwhelming feelings of elation. But it was the feelings of losing her husband that got her elevated to begin with. Some would say she died of a broken heart. But her broken heart was caused by suddenly realizing that her dreams of freedom and independence have been robbed from her. That’s ultimately what killed her.
Very astute, close reading of “The Story of an Hour,” Jamil. I certainly agree about the meaning of the final line here (broken dreams!).
‘If I were a Man’ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman explores the dynamics of gender roles through the eyes of a woman which is the theme of the story. Protagonist Mollie Mathewson is characterized as a loving wife and devoted mother who wishes to become a man at the start of the story and has her wish granted immediately. She envisions her life as a man named Gerald and when she becomes a man, she realizes how different it felt being a man versus a woman in those times, she feels the freedom of being a male both physically and mentally and finally feels comfortable in society. Mollie prematurely had a life that was completely mapped for her as a woman and was limited to opportunities and rights, as a man she no longer felt those pressures anymore. The idea of switching bodies and going from one gender to another is not realistic but the concepts surrounding the plot are realistic, the idea of male privilege and them being superior while women are looked at and also feel inferior is definitely as real as it can get especially for the time period this story is based in. The way women are looked at is shown mostly in how Mollie is described as a wife, she is perceived as a ‘good wife’ but the only reason she was considered that is because she stayed in a women’s place, and stuck to what men expected her to do, another element that shows the different perceptions in the genders is in the dialogue and gives you a better insight on how men perceive women specifically.
I’m glad you picked this story Sharnay. I wonder if some of these “affordances” that men had when the story was written remain true today. What would a modern update to this story look like!
Yes, I agree that although it is impossible for the main character Mollie to switch bodies and live the life of a man for a day, I believe the concept is realistic. In that time span, she experienced what it felt like for a married man in that day and age to go out to work and commerce with similar men. One thing that drew my attention to the story was the description of the clothing. The author highlighted how comfortable the men’s clothing was to show that practicality wasn’t the same for women’s clothing at the time, they didn’t even have the need for pockets. What that told me was that women weren’t allowed to even wear functional clothing instead was more acceptable was, to quote “idiotic hats”. She was also given a new perspective of what goes on in a man’s mind. She was able to hear conversations with fellow men that were very eye-opening to her. One topic that stood out to her was the view men had of women. What they thought good women should be and how they were on a different pedestal than men. That’s when she expressed to her friend’s husbands that if women did stray from the societal norm of crazy fashions they are ostracized and not fonded by the typical man.
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses several literary elements to convey its message. The story makes use of irony, such as the ironic situation of a woman being prescribed the very treatment that ultimately drives her insane. The use of imagery is also prominent in the story, with vivid descriptions of the yellow wallpaper and its patterns serving as a metaphor for the protagonist’s mental state. The theme of the story is the oppression of women, as the protagonist is confined to a room and denied agency over her own life. The story also uses characterization, with the protagonist’s descent into madness being portrayed in a nuanced and sympathetic manner. Overall, these literary elements work together to create a powerful and impactful story that continues to resonate with readers today.
All excellent observations Anthony but in a short post it will work better to fully elaborate a single point and include direct quotes from the story.
“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a short story that provides a compelling critique of the lack of rights and confinement of women in the 19th century. The story follows the narrator, a woman who is suffering from what is likely postpartum depression, and her experience of being confined to a bedroom in a house she shares with her husband.
Throughout the story, the narrator describes the physical and psychological effects of her confinement. She is forbidden from working, writing, or even leaving the bedroom. She is not allowed to see friends or family and is entirely dependent on her husband for everything. This situation underscores the limited opportunities and lack of autonomy that women faced during this time.
The yellow wallpaper that covers the walls of the bedroom serves as a metaphor for the narrator’s confinement. As she becomes increasingly obsessed with the pattern, she begins to see it as a reflection of her own situation. She feels trapped, helpless, and increasingly disconnected from reality. The wallpaper becomes a symbol of the psychological and emotional effects of the limitations placed on women during this time.
Ultimately, the story serves as a powerful commentary on the lack of rights and autonomy that women faced in the 19th century. The narrator’s confinement and subsequent breakdown illustrate the harmful effects of denying women agency, independence, and basic human rights. By using the yellow wallpaper as a symbol of the narrator’s confinement, Gilman underscores the psychological and emotional impact of this lack of freedom.
I agree with this, the story symbolizes irony through her medication and mental health issues. And how the yellow paper is a symbol and a how it’s a message. I think the story really portrayed the characters feelings/emotions what women had to go through.
Wonderfully thorough and perceptive reading, Aisha, of “the trap” the narrator finds herself in in this truly haunting and sad story.
I read the yellow wall- paper This story, in my view, is a symbol of irony. One example is when a lady is given the exact prescription that eventually makes her go/feel insane in a way . The character doesn’t understand that the prescription is driving her crazy, which is an ironic use of irony. She was experiencing mental health problems, but it’s ironic that while medicine was prescribed for her in the story, it actually had the opposite effect.
Hello Tasneim,
The irony is apparent in the story. As you pointed out, medicine normally is supposed to help one recuperate, yet this harmed the narrator instead. In my post, I was focusing on the characterization where because of this point you mentioned, the amount of emotional change that the lady experienced was very saddening. While I do not know enough to determine if her husband is a good doctor, I can tell by the manipulative trait he had towards his wife unfortunately portrays John as not a good husband.
You raise a great question here as to “proper” medical care. Indeed the irony of the story is enhanced by making her husband “a doctor” — when it’s quite obvious he’s the problem behind her sickness/madness.
“The Yellow Wall-Paper” is a short story by Charlotte Perkins Stetson, which is the maiden name of Charlotte Gilman, and is written as a series of journal entries by an unnamed narrator. From the first look at the illustration and the epigraph, I started wondering what it is about: judging by the barred windows is it a prison or a mental institution, or some horror story. In fact, it happened to be all of them. “The Yellow Wall-Paper” is a fiction work of literature with the elements of a horror story. The elements of fiction used in “The Yellow Wallpaper” are plot, setting, character, conflict, point of view, and theme. The plot is of a young wife and mother who is prescribed rest by her physician husband, slowly going insane while confined to a room with ugly wallpaper. The conflicts within the plot include the main character versus her husband John, who does not listen to her concerns about her growing mental health problems, the main character versus herself or her mind as her mental illness progresses, and the main character versus society that diminishes a woman’s voice in asserting her own autonomy, especially during mental health recovery. The setting of the story is a country manor in the late 1800s, particularly the attic room where the main character is confined by the wallpaper she hates. The point of view of the story is a first-person perspective written by the young lady in her journal. Finally, the themes of the story intertwined with the issue of mental illness, the treatment of mental illness, and the way society oppress women especially in dealing with their mental health. The story uses several literary elements such as Allegory, Symbolism, Imagery, and Gothic. An allegory, as a symbol or series of symbols, covers an entire work. In our story allegory and symbolism are knotted together revealing what is really happening and what it symbolized. While there are several symbols throughout “The Yellow Wallpaper,” it is the symbol of the wallpaper itself that truly makes it an allegory. The wallpaper represents the woman’s declining mental state. This is seen through her interactions with the wallpaper the longer she is being held locked in the room. While in the beginning, she simply comments on the ugly color and pattern of it, by the end she has horrific hallucinations and is trying to rip it off the wall. On a social level, the wallpaper represents the late 19th-century male-dominated society that imprisoned women, particularly women who were also suffering from some form of mental illness. Right away we would know the husband’s name, pointing out that he is an important person, while we would never know the name of the young woman, the narrator. She symbolizes women as an entity, their submissive and subservient status in society. Women were confined to roles in the home, and women with any form of mental illness were not properly treated; they were often given the rest cure as our narrator is in this story. Just as the woman trapped in the wallpaper breaks free at the end, Gilman hopes women will be able to do the same in real life. The wallpaper also develops into a gothic element. Initially, it seems normal, and the narrator simply stares at a particular point on the wall. As the story progresses, the pattern of the wallpaper seems to come to life. A bit of the supernatural seems to be at play, something that would be considered a gothic element. The pattern in the wallpaper develops into a woman who seems trapped in the pattern of the wallpaper, unable to escape from her confinement. While it symbolized that the narrator is going mad, it develops into yet another gothic element.
The woman trapped in the pattern of the wallpaper represents the situation of the narrator. She is trapped, confined even, in her room, with her husband seemingly taking care of everything. The woman is seen as helpless and in need of care, while the man is a strong and all-knowing figure who is there to care for the woman and protect her. This description of her husband as her savior would also go toward the gothic element in the story. The female is in peril and is reliant upon a man to care for and protect her. The dark and horrifying imagery reveals the growing mental illness of the narrator, without delving too much into the supernatural, of a woman creeping behind the pattern of the wallpaper at night and later the hallucination of women creeping through the garden and across the hills is yet another symbolic and gothic element in the story.
This is quite an elaborate and profoundly interestingly reading of this endlessly fascinating tale. I agree with your observation that “The Yellow Wallpaper” really should belong in the “psychological horror” genre — as you astutely argue. I also like your connection of the illustrations from the first edition.
In reading the stories authored by Kate Choplin, i must say that i was so overwhelmed with curiosity as to the type of life this author must have had i began to further research her. On a website labeled after the author herself, katechoplin.org, it brutally honestly details how her early works were originally insignificant and described as vulgar. These descriptions were definitely influenced by the times that she lived in where expression like that from women would be looked down upon. The article would go on to declare however, as times got nearer to present day , “scholars rediscovered it and praised it for it’s truthfulness”.
In The Storm choplin tells the story of how father and son weathered through terrible conditions of a storm seeking temporary refuge all the while wondering if their wife/mother would be OK. Meanwhile, finding herself in an episode circumvented by her own female chivalry, she takes advantage of the situation and indulges in an escape of indiscretion only to enjoy herself immensely during these moments of bewilderment.
In Story of an Hour Choplin again details a surprisingly critical reaction of a woman to an event. As expected when Ms Mallard was to receive notice of her husbands death , immediate grief took over her. What was not expected was the short life of said grief as Ms Mallard began to see it as chains coming off of her and herself becoming free. While friends and family are anticipating enormous amounts of grief, Ms Mallard is in solitude beginning to wonder about all the things she can now do. After fantasizing about directions her life could be headed in , she is then taken aback by the appearance of the man whom she thought to be dead. Having had slightly the taste of freedom and too feel it being snatched away from her again, her body then attempts its own quest for freedom as she succumbs to the earlier detailed ailment of heart trouble. I guess the body wants what it wants!
Michael, I really admire how you delve into Chopin’s biography to bring out further elements of both crafty stories. Each one is different and both really push the envelope (certainly for the 1890s and even for today!) — as you keenly acknowledge. She was quite the trouble-maker that Kate Chopin!
From the biography, Charlotte Perkins Gilman was an activist who expressed her belief in women’s rights through writing. After reading The Yellow Wall-paper, I was surprised how she wrote this story based on her personal experience. At first, I would ask myself why this situation where the narrator went from normal to insane sounds so realistic. From the biography, we can understand how Gilman did experience postpartum depression and knows that the rest treatment does not sit well with her, even though she wrote about this event with a different name for the character. I liked how she could show a contrast regarding how the woman’s choice would impact one’s life.
In terms of the characters in the story, the narrator wants to express herself, especially as she is experiencing postpartum depression. Even though she was able to write throughout the story, she had to do it in a way so that her husband would not know. The environment she was in, trapped and having little to no support, influenced a drastic transition in her character. The smell, wallpaper, limitations, and isolation from the outside did not allow the narrator to make her own choices and, more importantly, a social atmosphere to express her feelings. John, on the other hand, while he is a person of high social class, is not a good husband to the narrator because of his negligence. While he thinks that assigning this treatment to his wife is a good thing, little does he know till the end that because of his treatment, he lost his wife from a mental standpoint. With the 19th century being a period when women tend not to get to work, it brings an area of question. The question is, “Isn’t it essential for the significant other to support their loved one?” The problem is with the character that John portrays, and he does not provide the space for the loved one to breathe and do what every person would want to do: interact with others. This story shows the characters as the losers of the relationship.
I really like your discussion of what makes this tale sound so “realistic” or better yet clinical. Your final point is also illuminating:
The problem is with the character that John portrays, and he does not provide the space for the loved one to breathe and do what every person would want to do: interact with others. This story shows BOTH characters as the losers of the relationship.
Keep in mind too that the wife ends up “crawling” all over her husband in the end. In the end, she is stepping on him — a sad reality that speaks again on the loss of a healthy relationship for both.
I really enjoyed Chopin’s The Story of an Hour. In the beginning of the story, after she is told of her husband’s death and locks herself in her room, she details a bright and vibrant day outside, full of life. I thought that this would’ve been an ironic description, but instead she begins to open up to the newfound freedom she inherited though the passing of her husband. I thought the description of “monstrous joy” was a very interesting wording. It is sort of monstrous and cruel to be joyful over your husband’s death, but it is joy nonetheless. Then her dying of a heart attack is the true irony of the story, they thought that telling her about the death of her husband might kill her, but actually the fact that he was alive is what sends her over the edge.
Ah yes. You picked up on how Chopin presents her irony even in a single word combination. That “monstrous joy” says it all!
In Kate Chopin’s “The Storm”, literacy devices have been used. The theme in the story is sex. Calixta and Alcee were committing adultery behind Bobinôt and Clarisse respectively. The symbol is the storm. The chinaberry tree is where Alcee and Calixta sat at to wait out the storm. The story is unusual since it features a dark tone. The irony is the characters do not mention but indirectly show the audience how the weather can affect people’s actions. A simile I can come up with is “her lips were red and moist as pomegranate seed”. It means Alcee views Calixta just as they were together in the past.
That’s an excellent, luscious simile to pick up on, Wilson. It clearly suggests an attraction between the two that is indeed “stormy” — picking up from the last time they saw each other.
The Story of An Hour by Kate Chopin is a powerful tale that explores the complex emotions of a woman faced with the news of her husband’s death. The story is told from a third-person point of view, which allows the reader to gain insight into the thoughts and emotions of the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard. Additionally, suspenseful language and imagery throughout the story create tension and anticipation. The characters in this story are very distinct and well-developed. The story’s opponent is society’s expectations rather than a specific character. The setting of this narrative is essential to the plot because it assists the reader in acquiring a deeper grasp of Mrs. Mallard’s feelings. Through narrative technique, characterization, setting, and theme, Chopin can explore complex emotions and social conventions. The story is a vivid reminder of the importance of freedom and independence.
Good overall reading Lindsay but be sure to quote directly from the story and perhaps focus on a specific scene to amplify your points.
In the story of an hour Louises has heart trouble so her sister must inform her carefully of her husbands death. There was a railroad disaster, and Louises husband was on the list of those killed. She started crying but although she was also joyful that she would be free on her own without anyone to oppress her. She believes woman and men oppress each other even if they do it out of kindness. I was surprised that in the end Louises husband is not indeed dead but was actually spared because he was no where near the accident. Doctors arrive and pronounce that lousy died of a heart attack brought on by happiness. However, I believe Louise died of the grief of a freedom she never had, the found, then lost once more. In the story Louise is repressed in her mairrage. You can see this because Brently her husband is moving around in the outs world, while Louise is confined to her home. Louise’s character is showing us what a woman’s typical experience within marriage was in the 1890’s.
Very insightful reading of this story, Argelia. I like your concluding point that “Louise’s character is showing us what a woman’s typical experience within marriage was in the 1890’s. “
The story I chose to write about is ” If I were a Man” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and the theme I decided to touch on was imagery. In brief words this story was about a wife named Mollie Mathewson who fit into the stereotype of the “perfect-woman” . She was a good wife, good mom, enjoyed maintaining her home, she was the perfect size, and carried herself well. She wished to be a man though, and in the story she actually ended up becoming her husband and got an insight of a man’s world. The specific scene that spoke volumes to me was when she was wearing pants that had pockets. Women’s pants didn’t come with pockets so this was a big revelation to her. “Another impulse fished in a convenient pocket for change-instantly, automatically, bringing forth a nickel for the conductor and a penny for the newsboy.” This one quote has two different realizations, as a women in 1914 you were homebound and weren’t really outside of home. She had pocket change for the first time and is now experiencing that financial freedom in a way. ” she had felt what she had never felt before in all her life-the possession of money, of her own earned money-hers to give or to withhold, not to beg for, tease for, wheedle for hers…”. Again, in this time as a woman you’re depending off of your husband to provide for you because you don’t work. These pockets are almost life-changing.
The story’s topic, “If I were a Man,” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, examines the complexities of gender roles from the perspective of a woman. The protagonist, Mollie Mathewson, is portrayed as a caring mother and wife who aspires to change into a male at the beginning of the novel and is promptly given her wish. She imagines herself living as Gerald, a guy, and when she does, she discovers how different it was to be a man back then compared to being a woman. She also experiences the freedom that comes with being a man, both physically and emotionally, and she at last feels at ease in society. Becoming a man relieved Mollie of the expectations that came with having a life that was already totally planned out for her as a woman, with restrictions on her options and privileges. The premise of changing genders and exchanging bodies is not realistic, but the ideas that surround the tale are. For example, the idea of male privilege and their perception of themselves as superior to women is as real as it gets, especially given the era on which this novel is centered. The way Mollie is described as a wife primarily demonstrates how men view women; while she is thought of as a “good wife,” the only reason for this is that she adhered to what men expected of her as a woman. The dialogue is another aspect that demonstrates how men view women in particular and provides further insight into how men view gender perceptions in general.
How “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin Conveys the Lack of Rights and Confinement of Women in the 19th Century. Chopin’s story focuses mainly on the conflict between “freedom” and “repression. Historically, women were expected to submit to their husbands, which kept many women captive in their marriages. Women have required long and arduous struggles to attain parity with males. It was common for women writers of the day to depict women’s challenges in fiction. This paper will highlight the theme of women’s lack of rights and confinement in the 19th century.
Louise Mallard is a target of societal suppression in the narrative. When her husband is presumed dead, Louise finally feels liberated. Initially, Louise felts stifled in her marriage. The fact that Brently is free to roam the city while Louise is stuck inside serves to illustrate this to the reader. Brently travels independently by train, enters his home on his initiative, and carries his briefcase and umbrella. Even after returning home, Brently has no recollection of the train derailment. On the other hand, Louise cannot leave the house due to her gender and heart problems.Chopin also contrasts the notion of freedom for men and women strikingly. In the United States, male identity includes freedom, but female freedom looks quite different. Society’s expectations for women and wives impact Louise’s identity and choices. Yet, Louise realizes that after her husband is “dead,” she may begin reclaiming some of the more “male” liberties for herself. Chopin demonstrates the centrality of independence in a woman’s life by having Louise’s death be brought on not by the shock of her husband’s return but by the fear of losing it once again. In the theme of women’s lack of rights and confinement in the 19th century is evident throughout Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour.” Mrs. Mallard spends most of her marriage unable to accomplish anything she enjoys since she is never given any personal time. After hearing that her spouse has passed away, she thinks she will be free at last.