Women Oppression: From a Feminine Perspective

Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” is the epitome of women oppression during the nineteenth century. Since Mrs. Mallard endures a severe heart disease, she poses as a threat to herself, at least in the mind of her sister Josephine. Since all of the action in the story gyrates around Mrs. Mallard’s comfort, this threating behavior is predominantly evident. Everything is composed to protect her from any impulsive and/or drastic agony. Concluding the story, the stability of her situation is what endures: Brently Mallard’s shocking arrival signals the return of her tyrannical disorder and guarantees that Louise Mallard will experience no more than a transitory alteration of her condition. It is this rigid vision-the conservancy of the oppressive circumstance-that’s evident Louise, or possibly her affliction, is lethal to herself.
Women during 19th century had limited choices on how they would live their lives. Most subsisted in a state slightly better than slavery. They were forced to obey men, because generally men detained all the assets and women had no autonomous means of existence. A prosperous widow was often considered a fortunate immunity. Although, if women remained single would accept societal displeasure and shame. Consequently, women could not have children with a man: the public penalties were solely too high. Neither could they work professionally, since the business world refused women.
Louise Mallard is the primary subject of the masculine discourse of the story. This so called masculine discourse, which ultimately pronounces her dead, is fixed at the beginning of the story. Initially, she is presented as “Mrs. Mallard” and also referred to as “she”. It is not until after Louise “was beginning to recognize. . . [her ...

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...hildren or be married the rest of her life. Although the idea of freedom invades Louise’s emotions in her room, masculine discourse is once again the value in the world and thus maybe, she never should have existed.
The “Story of an Hour” replicates different forms of women oppression, although Louise Mallard suffers for from this direct conflict, it was in no way unusual for women living during the nineteenth century. Abruptly and ultimately unanticipated, this story is the opportunity for a search of her desire for freedom, no matter how ephemeral. Louise’s acknowledgment of her discontent clarifies Choppin’s and other women’s commitment to a female perception and what it beholds outside the perspectives of male discourse.

Works Cited

Choppin, Kate. "The Story of an Hour." Freshman English II Fiction. Ed. Michael S. Kelly. 2014 Edition. Web. 3-10. 19 Feb. 2014.