The Feeling of Control in "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
In the 'The Story of an Hour' by Kate Chopin essay the topic of the feeling of control is discussed. The theme of control and choice become very prevalent throughout this quick read. The oppressed wife who is finally being given the opportunity to steer the wheel of her own life, can be connected and correlated to how many other women feel in our own society run by men.
In the world we live in it’s not hard to see the unjust and blatantly obvious divide we see between men and women. And in the short story “The Story of an Hour” the writer Kate Chopin gives us the readers some insight on how women feel when control and choice is bestowed upon them even only if it’s for an hour. We take an outside perspective when the story starts and are told that Mrs. Mallard has a terrible heart problem, and that “extra care” was given to her when told about the news of her husbands’ death. The news was broken to her by her sister Josephine, an at first one might think it makes sense to have that sort of news told to her by a family member but later we find out Mr. Mallards close friend Richard is the first to find out about the tragic news. Why didn’t Richard go to Mrs. Mallard as soon as he found out about her husband’s death? Was the “extra care” getting another woman to break the news because the societal norm that is sowed in our heads that woman are better nurturers and more emotionally available than a man? It’s as though Richard thought breaking the news to Mrs. Mallard would’ve put him in a position where he couldn’t emotionally support her and she would’ve died on the spot. Which just isn’t the case
(It seems Richards thought processes was if he broke the news to her she would’ve been so overly emotional and died right there on the spot)
She wept as anyone would’ve after losing somebody that close to them. And dismissed herself to be alone in her room, but she didn’t lay in her bed and wallow but instead rests upon a “roomy” chair and gazes out the window. Still in dismay at the loss of her husband because at the end of the day he wasn’t a bad guy, no indication to us the readers that he was abusive with her physically and she did truly love him. Yet, we are noticing that she is used to being cooped up in her home alone, seeing her husband come and go as he so pleases. Is this because of her condition? Is it really her choice to stay in this house to protect her fragile heart? As if this grown woman doesn’t know what’s best for herself. She continues to look out at the blue sky from the window and a bliss and euphoric feeling starts to come over her. This is described as sounds, scents, and colors and a reader can infer that there is nothing changing physically but mentally inside of her, she is seeing and feeling things differently now.
“Free, free, free” are chanted from under her breathe, the realization that she no longer has to be metaphorically chained to her husband and his suggestions to why she must stay in the house began to warm her body. We live in a time of acceptance and great change but not that long-ago women were bound to their spouses’ decisions, money handling, and work were all up to the men. Not because this was agreed upon on equal ground but because society itself made it that way, woven through centuries of a made up thought of male dominance. So, it’s no shock to see Mrs. Mallard become exalted and be given for once an opportunity to do what she so desires to do. The oppression of having to listen and taking orders was lifted off her shoulders, she wasn’t afraid of what’s to come or what might happen because she was ready to handle it on her own for once. “Free! Body and soul” were the words that confirmed that even in a loving marriage, when someone’s ability of control is taken over by someone and being able to choose for oneself is hindered then you’re not happy nor yourself. This is happening everyday even in today’s society.
