Louise in "Story of an Hour"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how Kate Chopin uses different types of imagery to convey the main character, Louise Mallard's, dramatic transformation in personality, which is caused by the untimely death of her husband.

From the Paper:

"Kate Chopin's rather unusual tale, "The Story of an Hour," focuses on a woman named Louise Mallard who has been mistakenly informed of her husband's death. Her sister Josephine and her husband's friend Richards are careful in breaking the news to her, because they fear that her frail heart will be unable to withstand the blow. Interestingly enough, however, Mrs. Mallard is not completely devastated at this news - on the contrary, she feels as if she has been set free. Over the course of the story, Mrs. Mallard grows more and more exuberant at the prospect of life without her husband. We gain more insight into Mrs. Mallard's optimistic condition through Chopin's descriptions of not only her own body and soul, but the world around her. Mrs. Mallard's dramatic change in character, caused by the untimely death of her controlling husband, is revealed through subtle, yet skillful imagery - not only of her settings, but of her slowly strengthening emotional and physical being."

More papers on Louise in "Story of an Hour":

• Book Review # 107662 : "Kate Chopin's "Story of an Hour"
• Analytical Essay # 106976 : "The Story of an Hour"
• Analytical Essay # 107917 : "Story of an Hour"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: