"The Story of an Hour"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Kate Chopin's short story, "The Story of an Hour", focuses on the oppression that women experienced during the late 19th century. The author explains that this story was shocking to Chopin's readers because they were not used to reading about women who openly acknowledged their feelings of oppression. Modern readers also are shocked when they read about Louise's life because modern women experience much more freedom than Louise could have ever imagined. The paper concludes that, when comparing modern women and Louise, there is very little in common except the natural desire for self-realization.

From the Paper:

"One of the major differences we see between Louise and the modern woman is that Louise is practically a prisoner in her own home. To emphasize this fact, Chopin has the entire story take place inside Louise's home--and almost entirely in a single room. Louise retreats to her room when she becomes aware of the fact that her husband is dead. Chopin makes a point of telling us that Louise "would have no one follow her" (635), which indicates that she rarely had any time to herself. We can also assume that Louise has but one place where she can go to be alone. Louise must look outside the window if she is going to see what exists beyond her home."

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