Repression in the 18th Century

756 Words2 Pages

The Story of an Hour

Kate Chopin's ideas of feminism were seen in this story through Louise Mallard's reaction after the death of her husband. I will prove that the repression Louise Mallard felt was so intense she would rather die than spend another day in servitude. Also I will cite an example of how the author's feelings of repression were seen through Louise Mallard.

After Louise Mallard received the news of her husbands death from her sister and husband's friend, Richards, a new beginning was about to be embarked upon. She was upset about the news she took herself to her room where she demanded privacy. As Chopin pointed out "She would have no one follow." (138) It was at that moment she sat down to look outside her window and "She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with new spring life." Symbolizing what could be the beginning of personal manumission. As Louise sat there feeling a range of emotions as she looked ahead to what could be a life to live for herself.

This story takes place in the 19th century also known as the Victorian Era. At this time women were to wait on and obey there husbands, take care of the house and rearing of the children. Women were in marriage that were arranged and love wasn't necessarily the driving factor in a marriage. As when Louise questioned the love she felt or didn't feel for her husband the author stated clearly "And yet she had loved him -sometimes. Often she had not." (139) Women were allowed to have no secret thoughts and were placed in ."...very repressive situations." (Milne 1) Also the author makes reference to the hands of Louise Mallard as ."..- powerless as her two white slender hands would have been." ...

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...women. She was a woman who I believe would have appreciated all of the freedoms as women we take for granted.

Works Citied

Charters, Ann & Samuel. Literature and its Writers.Bedford/St Martins, 2004

Katherine Chopin. Contemporary Authors.1-16 Author Resource Page. Literature

Resource Center. Gateway Community College, New Haven, Ct.02/17/05 http://www.eid.gwcc.commnet.edu:5020/servlet/LitRC?vrsn=&OP=contains&locID=240

Milne, Andrea. The Rise of Feminism in the 1800's: A Precursor for Greater Protest. Http://project1.caryacademy.org/north12/ *

Seyersted, Per. The Complete works of Kate Chopin.Louisiana State University Press, 1998

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