Women's Oppression In The Story Of An Hour By Susan Glaspell

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Recommended: The Story of an Hour Analysis

Women’s Oppression Kate Chopin and Susan Glaspell were both talented writers during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Chopin and Glaspell wrote about the oppression of women during that era. Kate Chopin is famously known for her short story “The Story of an Hour.” Chopin demonstrates a woman’s mixed reaction to the news of her husband’s passing, with a surprise twist. Glaspell is famously known for writing Trifles. In this play, Glaspell takes the readers on a journey of trying to find the suspect of a murder case. Men and women are both at the scene of the crime, but it is an astonishment as to who cracks the case first. Throughout history, women have been viewed as inferior to men, and their roles in society were limited. Their voices and
Chopin had to grow up not knowing what it was like to have a male figure in the household. She was raised by compassionate, intelligent, but most importantly independent women (420). Her upbringing was strongly displayed in her literary works. Chopin wrote “The Story of an Hour” to demonstrate her thoughts that women should branch away from how society viewed them. Chopin’s story was “refused publication by the editor of Century magazine” (Harlow502). The story demonstrated women challenging the male culture, which was the opposite of how women were supposed to act. The magazine editor felt the story should not be published because of the message it held. The story gives the readers an insight on the thoughts of women regarding independence to live their life the way they want to. Chopin felt men tried to control women, including their own thoughts and actions. Donald Demarest spoke of Chopin’s “brilliant use of the objective correlative…especially the scarcely-recognized awakening of long-dormant emotions” (Louisiana 129). I agree with Demarest because in “The Story of an Hour,” Mrs. Mallard never realized the sense of freedom that had been there all along, but she just needed the opportunity for independence to realize
Mallard is conflicted with the idea of being free from dependence. Mrs. Mallard, who has heart problems, received news of her husband’s sudden passing due to a railroad accident. Kate Chopin’s father also died in a railroad accident when she was only five, tying the story to her personal life (Louisiana Creole). Chopin also lost her husband, Oscar, in the early 1880’s (Louisiana Creole 122). She instantly cried instead of being in utter shock, and went to a room by herself to stare out the window and contemplate the news. Death as a personal loss in Mrs. Mallard’s situation is “felt not as a loss at all but is construed rather as release and liberation” (Harlow 502). Mrs. Mallard repeated the words, “free, free, free” (426)! She embraced the world outside, and now she could enjoy life and do as she pleased without having someone to answer to. Thinking about her life in the future, Mrs. Mallard rejoiced, “Free! Body and soul free” (426)! She knew outside of the window the world was full of new opportunities just waiting to be unveiled, and she planned to live her life to the fullest while doing things she never thought were possible when her husband Mr. Mallard was still

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