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The Story of an Hour

            The Story of an Hour takes its readers into the life of Louise Mallard a housewife who seems to be liberated upon the supposed death of her husband Brently. One would ask why she would have such feelings, when she was just told that her husband was dead. I believe one would have to explore the era to which the story is betrayed, to understand as to why Louise felt this way. The oppression of women during this time had a lot to do with the erratic mixture of feelings that were racing through her mind. "Free! Body and soul free!" (Chopin 247). The chains that bound her to a seemingly depressed marriage were broken if only for a sweet hour of freedom. .
             Kate Chopin's stories were written of the reality women faced during her lifetime. Unfortunately for women they would have to endure such inequalities for years to come. Chopin first published The Story of an Hour in 1894, under the title The Dream of an Hour, which seems to be a perfect fit to the morale of the story. It was the dream of Louise to live a life to which she could do as she pleased without fearing the wrath of Brently. Louise was embracing for a life that "would belong to her absolutely" (Chopin 247). Endurance in such independence would have been forbidden for Louise if Brently were still alive. Unbeknownst to Louise her dream to live a long life would come to an abrupt stop with the turn of the front door knob. .
             .
             Unfortunately for Louise, marriages then were dominated by the husband. The role of the wife was that of domestication. Women had no place in working outside of the home. I believe this was a way that society kept a woman in her place. I could not imagine having to stay at home tending to the every needs of my husband. Women were made to feel inferior to the man. Even on walks about the town one would see a woman walking not beside her husband but behind him. This was just another way man was able to enthrall his superiority above the woman.


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