Kate Chopin – The Story of an Hour
...e to infer a great deal about the woman’s life, even though the story itself tells very little about it. The fact that she is referred initially as only “Mrs. Mallard”, while her husband’s full name is given, gives an indication how oppressed women in nineteenth century were. Not until later, when she becomes free, “Free! Body and soul free!”, that she is addressed directly by her first name, “Louise”. The characters illustrate what she feels of the condition of living at the time. Louise, the main character in the story, is a symbol of what a woman in nineteenth century feel about their life. Upon hearing that his husband is dead, “with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance”, like what we would expect, she was instead enlivened with joy “Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body”. This showed how badly oppressed the women at that time were, and how desperate they are to break free of their husband. In addition to plot and character, the setting in “The Story of an Hour” is an integral part in the development of the theme. Taking place in the nineteenth century, her marriage exemplifies the status of women in the nineteenth century and how she is merely treated as an object. Although Brently “had never looked save with love upon her”, he disregarded his wife’s happiness : The “lines [of her face] bespoke repression” The limited setting of the story, that is mainly confined to a room, a sta...