Question

Explain and discuss about “The story of an hour” by Kate Chopin.

Answer 1

The story of an hour” by Kate Chopin.

Mrs. Mallard, once she had abosrbed the news of her husband's death, experienced a sense of self assertion. She had accepted the news of her husbands death and almost immdediately, different thoughts started coming in her mind. One of the stronger feelings was a feeling of being free. She started thinking of her life ahead, a life that would be entirely hers, that would only belong to her. She could lead her life on her own terms as her husband will not be there to impose his private will upon her.

Mrs. Mallard is justified for feeling and for thinking the way she did, after getting the news of her husband's death. What she is feeling is perfectly natural. She has accepted the death of her husband and is now trying to look at her life ahead with a positive frame of mind. This is helping her get over the grief. It's perfectly natural for human beings to think ahead after the death of someone near. Most of the people think ahead with a negative frame of mind. Thoughts like, who will take care of me?, who will be there to love and support me? etc. comes to the mind. Very few people tend to think ahead with a positive frame of mind.

Mrs. Mallard is dealing with her grief by thinking positively. She has accepted the fact that her husband is dead and is now contemplating how her life would change now. She is thinking of the positive changes only. It is her way of dealing with her loss and her grief.

Thus, Mrs. Mallard is justified for her feelings.