Part A
1. What is Louise Mallard’s opinion of marriage? Indicate the paragraph that suggests it?
1. What is Louise Mallard’s opinion of marriage? Indicate the paragraph that suggests it?
In the twelfth paragraph, Louise claims that she would no longer have to sacrifice herself for her husband. She clarifies her view of marriage as a power game of one imposing his will on the other.
2. How does she feel about her future as a widow? Cite the line in the text, using just the first few words, then a series of dots …?
There would be no one to live for… She is obviously choked about her husband’s death; however she is considering her future life as a widow with a rather positive outlook. She realizes that she can now have a life of her own: no one to live for but herself.
3. Why is there so much description of what is outside the window when Louise is alone in her room?
Death and grief, sorrow and pain—all could be considered as themes of this short story. By describing what is happening outside, the author is showing what is really happening inside of Louise: She is awakening to life.
4. Why did the author make the story so short?
The title explains itself: it is the story of an hour. The author was trying to illustrate how drastically a situation can change in short period of time. By making the story so short, he adds emphasis to that matter.
3. Why is there so much description of what is outside the window when Louise is alone in her room?
Death and grief, sorrow and pain—all could be considered as themes of this short story. By describing what is happening outside, the author is showing what is really happening inside of Louise: She is awakening to life.
4. Why did the author make the story so short?
The title explains itself: it is the story of an hour. The author was trying to illustrate how drastically a situation can change in short period of time. By making the story so short, he adds emphasis to that matter.
Part B
The Story of an Hour tells the story of a cardiac woman who learns that her husband has died. In this short story, our protagonist, Louise Mallard undergoes a series of emotional variations: she starts with sadness and desperation to end up with a sort of genuine happiness, before dying in an unstated, contradictory emotion. It is quite clear that one of the main themes of this story is women’s independence in marriage. In her description and discovery of widowhood, Mrs. Mallard shows us just how unsatisfactory was the married life in that time.
Women’s independence is not portrayed as the first feature of the story; it is more or less the solution to the situation which confronts us. It is not glorified by the story, but implicitly indicated in the criticism of marriage the author establishes: One cannot live happy in marriage if not living for herself in total freedom of the imposed will of the partner. Louise is of course shocked by her husband’s death; however, as the story unravels, she considers widowhood as more of a blessing than a sorrow. We realize that when she leaves her room in triumph and pride, glory and dignity. It is, however, when Brently Mallard, Louise’s husband, comes into the room, that the message is even clearer; Louise dies of heart diseases, one may say out of shock, I suggest out of disappointment. Indeed, the story takes an ironical turn when Brently, whom was thought dead, comes in. In the beginning of the story, Louise’s sister and Richard’ a friend of her husband breakdown the news to her so carefully, concerned about her heart condition. As Mrs. Mallard embraces her faith as a widow, sees it like a breath of fresh air, a new era, a great deliverance, the sight of her live husband chocks her even more: chocks her to death. The author’s point of view of marriage in those times is interesting. Prison, moral obligation, blind power game—each a negative element of marriage the author is depicting in the thoughts of her protagonist. By making her character fulfilled in grief, she shows us the idiocy in the marriage institution and its sexist approach to life.
I believe the message of the story, even if somehow a bit old-fashioned, is interesting and can be transposed to many aspects of today’s society. Old-fashioned because we do not see marriage in the same grotesque and sexist as it is described here. Women and men are, in most western communities, equal. The story in its all is stylishly written and touching and enjoyable.
Women’s independence is not portrayed as the first feature of the story; it is more or less the solution to the situation which confronts us. It is not glorified by the story, but implicitly indicated in the criticism of marriage the author establishes: One cannot live happy in marriage if not living for herself in total freedom of the imposed will of the partner. Louise is of course shocked by her husband’s death; however, as the story unravels, she considers widowhood as more of a blessing than a sorrow. We realize that when she leaves her room in triumph and pride, glory and dignity. It is, however, when Brently Mallard, Louise’s husband, comes into the room, that the message is even clearer; Louise dies of heart diseases, one may say out of shock, I suggest out of disappointment. Indeed, the story takes an ironical turn when Brently, whom was thought dead, comes in. In the beginning of the story, Louise’s sister and Richard’ a friend of her husband breakdown the news to her so carefully, concerned about her heart condition. As Mrs. Mallard embraces her faith as a widow, sees it like a breath of fresh air, a new era, a great deliverance, the sight of her live husband chocks her even more: chocks her to death. The author’s point of view of marriage in those times is interesting. Prison, moral obligation, blind power game—each a negative element of marriage the author is depicting in the thoughts of her protagonist. By making her character fulfilled in grief, she shows us the idiocy in the marriage institution and its sexist approach to life.
I believe the message of the story, even if somehow a bit old-fashioned, is interesting and can be transposed to many aspects of today’s society. Old-fashioned because we do not see marriage in the same grotesque and sexist as it is described here. Women and men are, in most western communities, equal. The story in its all is stylishly written and touching and enjoyable.
431 words
