Critical Perspective
Although Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” carries a beauty in its setting and an accurate portrayal in the manners and customs of those that live in Louisiana, the real strength from this story comes from the twist of her ending, and the elaborate setup leading to it. Chopin’s story starts off as a typical tale of a woman who just lost a loved one and is grieving over their death. However, unlike many stories that focus on the spouse of someone that just died, the main character, Louise Mallard, does not stay depressed and wallow in her loss. Instead, Louise looks beyond that moment to see a future of freedom away from the constraints her husband may have placed upon her. With this realization comes a great joy that is not normally associated with the death of a loved one.
It is the news that her husband is actually alive that causes her heart to fail in the end. The last line that describes her heart disease as the “joy that kills” is ironic in the sense it was the shock of having her new joyous freedom of being free suddenly stripped away by the sight of her husband being alive. To her friends and family, it may have seemed that Louise’s heart gave away from the joy of her husband being alive, when in actuality it was closer to grief at seeing her new perspectives of freedom and “living for herself” diminish.
Chopin’s carefully crafted ending was certainly an element that gave so much power to “The Story of an Hour”, but there are other themes hidden in the story as well. There is the perspective of how individuals may handle grief differently. Namely with Louise’s sister, Josephine, and Brently’s friend, Richards, who tried breaking the tragic news of her husband’s death to Louise, thinking it would affect her heart condition. In contrast, Louise, after some self-reflection, felt a sort of joyous relief from the death of her husband.
Also, there could be the theme of repression; which in Louise’s case would be the repression a wife feels from her husband. As Louise is reflecting on what life will be like without her husband, she realizes the amount of freedom she would then have, and the ability to finally live for herself. She also mentions that she loved her husband, but certainly not all the time, perhaps hinting at some conflicts within the marriage. This could also be an indicator to the time period the story was written when divorce was scarcely heard of, and it was normally a woman’s duty to stand by her husband even in a repressive marriage.
Katie's Literature Blog 
jansy said,
October 16, 2007 at 6:40 pm
hey Katie,
i think you did a good job in breaking down “The Story of an Hour”. Your perspective on ‘hidden themes’ is quite accurate on grief and how Chopin twisted Mrs. Mallard’s into her new perspectives on freedom. I also agree that there could be an underlying theme of repression as stated in your last paragraph as well as the era of when Chopin worte this shirt story.
good job as i see it!
-Adam
jansy said,
October 16, 2007 at 6:41 pm
ps: i meant short story!
stelianna said,
November 27, 2007 at 2:19 am
Hi Katie
Great job on this critique. Though I took a different standing with the setting versus the ending, I definitely agree with your theme of the repression of women during that time period and I think that that plays a big role in this story. It is actually because of this theme that I decided that the setting was more important; otherwise I would have gone with the clever ending as well. The ending is ironic though, like you said. I thought it was interesting how the “joy that kills” can have two different meanings. Anyway, great job!
alemay said,
November 28, 2007 at 1:45 am
HI Katie, i also agree with your observations of the repression of women had to bear during the time of Chopin. I feel that women during this time must of felt confined, helpless and when Louis found out that her husband dies she probably felt more relieved then ever. the thoughts of freedom, and to be her own person most likely over whelmed her. Possobly the feeling of guilt over powered her as well you could see confusion in the character through her actions towards how she took the news of her husbands death. Louises mood swings were up and down very irregular. Louis’s reaction to her husbands return and the knowledge of her freedom being taken away just as fast as she thought she had it caused Louis to go into shock. Mainly because she probably was hit with the guilt that she actually was happy she thought her husband had died. Katie you did an awesome job in breaking down the short story “The Story of an Hour” your thoughts and comments alloud for me to look deeper into the story and think about the stroy from another persons perspectives i enjoyed the detail you put into your blogging keep up the good work.
Amanda