Foreshadowing of an ominous event is shown in the first line at the mention of Mrs. Mallard’s heart condition. The fact that Chopin takes care to give the reader a first impression of a stereotypical frail gentlewoman indicates that she wishes the reader to instantly recognize the type of woman that Mrs. Mallard is supposed to be by her family and friends. The story quickly shows that Mrs. Mallard is not quite the woman her family thinks she is when they tell her of her husband’s death and she does not “hear the story as many women have.”

Chopin more accurately shows Mrs. Mallard’s true emotion through uses

of the motifs of spring, traditionally symbolic of new life. The symbolism begins with the “storm of grief” Mrs. Mallard feels at the news of her husband’s death. Storms, which generally have connotations of darkness and sadness, are used in this story only to show her past, which will clear and make way for the future. The motif of spring life is more fully realized when the character sits in her comfortable armchair and contemplates her life while staring out of the window.

Kate Chopin uses many literary devices, including motifs, irony and description to give the reader true insight to the feelings of Mrs. Mallard in “The Story of an Hour.” Descriptions of scenery, personality, and emotion each add an element of sympathy that the reader inevitably feels toward Mrs. Mallard; who was oppressed not only by her husband, but society as well. While the blissful new freedom acquired by Mrs. Mallard is shattered once she learns of Mr. Mallard’s continued survival, her death makes her truly “body and soul free”.

Although many readers could sympathize with a physically or emotionally abused wife, the author makes it clear to the reader that Mr. Mallard was not a cruel man. In fact, his face “had never looked save with love upon her.” Mr. Mallard never treated his wife with ill will, he simply followed the standards of the time, which call for a woman to be “seen and not heard”. The description of Mrs. Mallard�

Some topics in this essay:
Kate Chopin, Story Hour”, Hour” Descriptions, Freedom Freedom, Chopin Mallard, “the story hour”, story hour”, “the story, kate chopin, husband’s death, body soul, “body soul free”, literary devices including, devices including, mallard’s window, “body soul, literary devices, soul free”,