‘Compare the author’s use of images in The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour to convey the theme of female Freedom & Rights from male control.’
...hes a tranquil and natural mood. This image suggests life; a life reflecting her awakening realization that she is free from male control, certainly a rare experience Louise will practice and enjoy. Additionally, Chopin’s use of auditory images such as peddlers ‘crying his wares’ and people singing down in the streets portrays Louise’s feeling of freedom and her awakening of a realization. The writer’s utilization of careless sounds gives a sense of life and a sound of liberty. The ‘monstrous joy’ Louise is feeling in her reflects and reveals what a difficult and unpleasant life she had been experiencing. Similarly, in The Other Wife Colette’s exploitation of natural images gives a sense of freedom from male control. Like Chopin, the window is used as an important symbol which represents the idea of freedom and a fresh start, as well as a stirring of new feelings. The story begins where Alice is forced and dragged away from where she wants to have lunch. Marc physically forces her away from the window where they would have a view of the beautiful bay. Looking at a deeper level, the force of male control literally drags Alice away from the tranquility and freedom of the bay. She is taken away from the window, which is another source of freedom. On the other hand, we are able to notice Marc’s wife who is relaxed sitting by the bay. After her divorce with Marc she has the freedom without any male controlling her own actions. The image of wind represents careless freedom; the way in which Marc’s ex-wife is laid back and the way the wind carelessly messes her hair reflects the enormous freedom and liberty she is enjoying after separating with Marc and freeing herself from male control. Furthermore, both Chopin and Colette address the theme of female liberty through the use of color images with relation to characters and settings. Marc’s ex-wife is clearly revealed as a character that is practicing freedom through various hints during the course of the story. She is referred to as the ‘woman in white’; a color, which represents freedom, liberty, peace, and a new beginning. Chopin, in contrast, does not use color images in relation to characters but use it in relation to the setting. She describes the cloud as gray and murky to establish a negative atmosphere when Louise is still in a state of shock from the terrible news. However, as her true feelings start to arouse, Chopin intelligently creates a lively atmosphere as the gray murky clouds start clearing and ‘patches of blue sky’ are visible. This development shows how Chopin also uses images to show changes in attitude during the story. In The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour both authors use descriptions of the movement of characters throughout the course of the two stories to convey the theme of female freedom and rights. In Chopin’s short tale the description of how Louise opens and spreads her arms out in welcome, reflects her contented and liberated feeling from her husband. Additionally, the way in which Louise ‘arose at length’ from her ‘comfortable, roomy armchair’ specifies that she is feeling livelier than ever and is ready to go on with her life of freedom and liberty. She also opens her door to a life of independence. Similarly in Colette’s story the ex-wife of Marc is spotted ‘smoking a cigarette with her eyes half closed.’ This image reflects the ment...