Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

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Recommended: Women and men gender roles in society

Although men and women are not all so different, society has instilled the idea of this rigid dichotomy between the sexes, which can often be seen in marriages between men and women. In Washington Square by Henry James, there was such a significant issue in the entire marriage because the man was financially dependent on the woman, and in Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour,” the marriage between the man and woman ultimately proved to be a prison for the woman. The benefits of marriage for men and women are so drastically different because of how both sexes are raised and viewed in society, as well as what is expected of them, which is clearly depicted in Kate Chopin and Henry James’ works.
In “Story of An Hour,” the benefits of marriage for men and women clearly lean in the man’s favor. …show more content…

Mrs. Mallard is oppressed by her marriage, and Catherine is oppressed by the institution of (an 1800s) marriage that has caused her to willingly sacrifice anything and everything in order for her husband. Mrs. Mallard only married Brently because she was expected to. Although she is a good wife and “sometimes” loved Brently, she abhors the role of “wife” she was forced to accept. Brently wasn’t a bad husband, but because of the societal expectations of men, he subconsciously denied his wife the transcendent role in the relationship (De Beuvoir). In Washington Square, there is such a significant issue between Catherine and Morris because Catherine holds one of the most important traits of the transcendent role: power. Morris ultimately leaves Catherine because he no longer wants to be supported by her. Rather than letting him leave with his petty reasoning, she offers to go with him and even catch yellow fever so she could die with him. She is so deeply oppressed by the 1800s standard of a “perfect wife” that she cannot bear to let her husband

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