The Story of an Hour
The Freedom of an Hour
Freedom of body and soul is the most important right any person can have. Unfortunately, often times the freedom of a woman is infringed upon by her husband; a person who is supposedly held so sacred and dear. In ?The Story of an Hour,? by Kate Chopin, Mrs. Mallard is suddenly surprised to find herself in a situation of freedom after years of spousal oppression. This newfound freedom causes a wide array of emotions for Mrs. Mallard. Kate Chopin shows the intimate details of the character?s emotions through the use of multiple literary devices, including symbolism and irony.
Foreshadowing of an ominous event is shown in the first line at the mention of Mrs. Mallard?s heart condition. The fact that Chopin takes care to give the reader a first impression of a stereotypical frail gentlewoman indicates that she wishes the reader to instantly recognize the type of woman that Mrs. Mallard is supposed to be by her family and friends. The story quickly shows that Mrs. Mallard is not quite the woman her family thinks she is when they tell her of her husband?s death and she does not
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