The Story of an Hour (Paper 2) Flashcards
Key words
- Window
- Freedom
- Heart attack
- Husband
- Opression
Context
Kate Chopin (1850-1904) was an American author. She lived in a time when women had few rights, including the vote. The role of women was to be subservient to men and to obey them. Women were unable to have their independence and they were expected to marry and produce children. Many women felt trapped at the time and they were not free to have career paths.
Key quotations
- Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble…
- Pressed down by a physical exhaustion that hauntedher body and seemed to reach into her soul
- free, free, free
- Free! Body and soul free!
- like a goddess of Victory
- A little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella
Themes and ideas
Richards and Josephine must share the death of her husband to Louise Mallard. They believe they should be gentle, as they believe her to be fragile. However, Louise becomes empowered by the loss of her husband and begins to consider her life as being better. She considers the freedoms that can occur from not having a husband anymore. This is an unexpected and surprising response, as the traditional view is that she will mourn her husband and be unhappy about being a widow.
Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble… (analysis)
- “Heart trouble” –> Fragile, Metaphor for unhappy marriage? Foreshadowing
Pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul (analysis)
- Personification - no control over grief
- Connotes her feelings and pressure
free, free, free (analysis)
Moment of epiphany
Repetition - emphasises repressive nature of marriage
like a goddess of Victory (analysis)
Similie - widowhood gives women power
A little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella (analysis)
Ordinary image contrasts with melodramatic “goddress”- brought back to reality
