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The Story of an Hour

 

            In the story "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, the author introduces the reader to a woman named Mrs. Mallard. Through explicit descriptions, such as "She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength" (Chopin 362), the reader is able to get a clear description of the woman. The story, though short in length, is an in-depth look into the life of Mrs. Mallard. It allows for a character analysis that reveals her need for freedom. .
             In the first few paragraphs, through narration alone, Mrs. Mallard is introduced. Words can be powerful enough to stand alone; however, once she begins speaking the reader truly gets inside her head. It is only then that the anguish really felt by Mrs. Mallard is revealed. The reader may initially become confused by the woman's reaction to the death of her husband. At first Mrs. Mallard is sad, but then surprisingly optimistic. Presenting the world through the eyes of Mrs. Mallard allows Chopin to build the compassion for the character. It almost opens a window into the life that she has lived. "When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: "free, free, free!" The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes" (Chopin 327). From what it seems, Mrs. Mallard has lived a repressed life. Mrs. Mallard was never given the freedoms to live for herself. Now with the news of her husband's death she finally feels some sense of freedom. .
             Mrs. Mallard was described as weak of heart, which doesn't seem true because she seems to get a second dose of life when she learns of her husband's death. She seems to become revived by the death of her husband. Mrs. Mallard looks through "rose colored glasses" in a time when the world should look dim and gray. She sees a new life for herself to live. This speaks for the kind of person Mrs.


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