... that "Chopin is engaging in some heavy handed irony." The heart is traditionally the symbol of an individual's emotional core. Ironic symbolism is illustrated by showing that her physical heart problems symbolize her emotional heart problems as they relate to a bad marriage. Jamil writes about Mrs. Mallard's heart, stating, "Mrs. Mallard's heart ailment appears to be, then, a result of the psychological burden of allowing her husband's powerful ... ;heart" of any society; therefore, Mrs. Mallard's heart troubles represent the decline of marriage in the late nineteenth century. Further il...

• Word Count: 1729
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... - by Kate Chopin Commentary "The Story of an Hour- is a startling portrayal of a woman's awakening upon receiving news of her husband's death. Written in the 19th century, this was very much considered a feminist' story, as it harboured disapproving attitudes towards marriage. In the first sentence, readers were told that the woman was (Louise Mallard) afflicted with heart trouble, foreshadowing danger, fragility, and unwell ... settled, comfortably, into a couch. That is not all. Where Louise should have looked out the window and see signs of darkness or hopelessness, she ironically noti...

• Word Count: 685
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... )". The love that is made among Armand and Desiree was an optimistic point in the plot of "Desiree's Baby" and the love being defined as an avalanche provided me with the image of white as a positive color throughout the rest of the story. Chopin related L'Abri with darkness when she described it as melancholy and the buildings "black like a cowl" ... , and after Armand shunned her, she considered her life not worth living. Just as in "Desiree's Baby", "The Story of an Hour" shows women as being weak. Mrs. Mallard has heart problems which made me view her as a naturally weaker charac...

• Word Count: 1578
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School