QUESTION

Construct a 350 word essay reading on kate chopins '' THE STORY OF AN HOUR

ANSWER

The story of an hour

In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," the author uses both allusion and irony to
convey the theme of the struggle for freedom and the societal constraints placed on women.
An allusion is a literary device in which an author refers to a well-known person, place, or
event in order to add deeper meaning to their work. One example of allusion in the story is the
use of the phrase "joy that kills." This allusion refers to the idea that something that brings
happiness at the moment can ultimately lead to destruction. In the story, Louise Mallard
experiences a sense of liberation and newfound freedom upon hearing the news of her husband's
supposed death, but this joy is short-lived as her husband returns alive. The allusion to the "joy
that kills" highlights the idea that societal expectations and constraints can suffocate individuals,
ultimately leading to their demise (Chopin). The phrase "joy that kills" is an allusion to the idea
that the happiness that comes from breaking free from societal constraints can be dangerous, and
ultimately deadly.
Another allusion in the story is the reference to the "comfortable, roomy armchair," which
Louise sits in as she reflects on her newfound freedom. This allusion can be interpreted as a
metaphor for the societal constraints that have been holding her back. The armchair represents

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the safety and security that society provides, but it is also a symbol of the limitations that society
places on individuals.
Concisely, Kate Chopin uses allusion to add deeper meaning to "The Story of an Hour."
The allusions to the "joy that kills" and the "comfortable, roomy armchair" highlight the theme
of the struggle for freedom and the societal constraints placed on women (Chopin). These
allusions create a sense of familiarity for the reader and add a layer of meaning to the story,
making it more relatable and thought-provoking.
On the other hand, irony is a literary device used to create a contrast between what is
expected to happen and what actually happens. In "The Story of an Hour," Kate Chopin uses
irony to convey the theme of the struggle for freedom and the societal constraints placed on
women.
The most obvious example of irony in the story is the fact that Louise Mallard's husband's
supposed death, which brings her a sense of liberation and newfound freedom, ultimately leads
to her own death. This situational irony highlights the theme of the struggle for freedom and the
societal constraints placed on women (Hazha and Tayib 140). Louise's husband's death gives her
a taste of freedom, but when she finds out that he is still alive, the reality of her trapped life
comes crashing down on her, causing her death.
Another example of irony in the story is the way Louise's husband's return undermines the
expectations of the readers. The reader's expectation of Louise's happiness after her husband's
death is shattered by the revelation that he is still alive. Irony is used to create a sense of surprise
and to make the readers question their assumptions about the story and the characters.
Additionally, irony is also present in Louise's reaction to the news of her husband's death.
Despite the fact that she is supposed to be grieving, she experiences a sense of liberation and

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newfound freedom (Hazha and Tayib 140). This is ironic because it is not what is expected of a
woman in her situation, and it is a commentary on the societal expectation that a woman should
grieve for her husband.
Most importantly, Chopin also employs dramatic irony in the story, where the readers
know something that the characters do not. The readers are aware that Louise's husband is not
really dead, but Louise is not aware of this. This creates a sense of tension and anticipation as the
readers wait for the moment when Louise will find out the truth.
write one literary criticism that really best describes the story of an hour. Instead
formalistic approach, biographical approach, historical approach, psychological approach,
or sociological approach
A literary criticism that can be applied to "The Story of an Hour" is the feminist
approach. The feminist approach is a literary criticism that focuses on the representation of
women and the societal constraints placed on them. In "The Story of an Hour," Kate Chopin
presents the theme of the struggle for freedom and the societal constraints placed on women
through the character of Louise Mallard.
One of the main elements of the feminist approach in "The Story of an Hour" is the
representation of the female protagonist, Louise Mallard. Chopin presents Louise as a woman
who is trapped in a loveless marriage and is suffocated by societal expectations and constraints.
Louise's reaction to the news of her husband's supposed death is a commentary on the societal
expectations placed on women (Negin and Zohdi 432). Instead of mourning her husband's death,
Louise experiences a sense of liberation and newfound freedom. This is a powerful commentary
on the societal constraints placed on women and the struggle for freedom.