Love Vs Freedom

The book “Backpack Literature” contains variety of short stories; the genres include fiction, poetry, drama and writing. Katie Chopin is one of many short story authors, she wrote both “Story of an Hour” and “The Storm.” She is a famous writer known for her fiction stories. She uses similar ideas in her stories. There are similarities and differences between these two short stories. Katie uses different elements to convey different messages in each story. Is she trying to give her readers a message about a relationship she once had?

The common message Katie Chopin expressed to her reader in both “Story of an Hour” and “The Storm” is her view on marriage. These stories help her open up regarding to her own opinions and experience. Being married made her feel constrained. She is secretly telling the world bits and pieces of her feelings, thoughts and events that occurred. Katie was married, had six children and lived day-to-day struggling with their finances. After her husband died, her hobby of writing became her job to put food on the table and her income to take care of her household. The women in both of these stories feel prisoned. In the book “Story of an Hour,” Louise Mallard finds out her husband is dead. Instead, of being upset she feels free and is excited about her future without him. In “The Storm,” the storm gives Calixta a reason to come into the house. The storm is also a metaphor that follows their relationship. These women do not like the power the men in their life have over them. Although they do have some sort of love for their husbands it is not unconditional love. The main objective Katie wants the reader to understand is the women in these stories want to be independent.

Setting plays a key component in a...

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...d not keep up with all of the emotions she was going through in a short span of time.

In life everyone has their own issues. We may not be able to see the flaws as much because we as human beings over up our emotions. You only live once, you need to live the life you dreamed of, or else you will live your life thinking what if. These short stories were very interesting. Katie’s writing was very descriptive and her stories came from the heart. These women should have lived their lives the way they wanted to instead of the way they were supposed to, since they were women of the 19th century they had to hold off and continue their lives as house wives. Life is not perfect; it is as good as you make it.

Works Cited

Kennedy, X. J., and Dana Gioia. Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. New York, N.Y.: Longman/Pearson, 2008. Print.