“THE STORY OF AN HOUR”

CRITICAL ANALYSIS (FEMINIST APPROACH)

GROUP 4 - VANZUELA

To begin with the discussion of feminism approach many writers have their own ideas but Kate Chopin is recognized as an important figure
in twenty-century American and a major figure in the feminist literature. In fact, this study emphasizes more on the first half of century
and especially the focus is on Mrs. Louise Mallard who is the protagonist in The Story of an Hour It could be said that in this story much
attention has been given to the identity crisis of women, thus in this paper all the aspects of identity problems in women will be revealed.

The Story of an Hour is a short story by Kate Chopin about a woman named Louise who is informed of her husband's death and
experiences a range of emotions from grief to relief. When Louise is told of her husband's death, she is taken to her room alone to grieve
and when she looks out the window, she is filled with a feeling of freedom. She begins to think of the possibilities for her life now that she
is no longer tied to her husband and begins to plan a new life for herself. However, her newfound freedom is short-lived when her
husband walks through the door, alive and well. Devastated and overwhelmed, Louise dies of shock. The story is an exploration of the
complex emotions that can accompany a life-changing event.

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a powerful example of feminist literature that explores a woman's complex emotions following her
unexpected freedom from a repressive marriage. Through the protagonist, Louise Mallard, Chopin conveys a sense of liberation and
empowerment that is often denied to women in a patriarchal society.
At the outset of the story, Louise is presented as a woman who is deeply devoted to her husband, but has nevertheless been oppressed
by the expectations and conventions of traditional marriage. Upon hearing of her husband's death, Louise initially experiences a deep
sense of grief, but this quickly transforms into a sense of joy and liberation. She is suddenly free to explore her own identity and the
possibility of a new life for herself. This is a stark contrast to the way in which she had been confined to her role as a wife in her marriage.
The story also explores how the social norms of the time allowed men to control and dominate women's lives. Louise's husband is never
seen, but his presence is felt throughout the story. His death is the catalyst for Louise's newfound freedom, but even in death, it is his
story that is told while hers remains largely untold. This highlights the power imbalance between men and women in a patriarchal society.

The key theme is the necessity of women's freedom and having a voice in their own society. This level of independence defied Victorian
traditional standards. The message is that people, men and women alike, appear to believe they have the right to rule over a marriage
partner and "impose a private will" on that person. The fundamental point of this narrative is that marriage, by definition, removes
independence and creates emotions of oppression, whether intentionally or inadvertently