The Story of an Hour: Oppression of Women in Marriage

Introductory Statement:
This story is about the oppression of women when they entered into a marital
union. The story revolves around the regressive nature of the institution of marriage and
the toll it took on the lives of the women who entered into such marital unions and were
perpetually unhappy with their state of affairs. They had to compromise on their
happiness and had to give in to the wishes of their husbands who tortured them for no
rhyme or reason. The story by Kate Chopin is about how the protagonist of the story,
Louise Mallard sought happiness when her husband had died as that was the time for her
to live and live for herself, unlike when her husband was alive. She used to live for him
and was guided by his wishes.
Transitional Ideas:
The transitional ideas provided in the story is that of the fact that finally the life
and happiness the protagonist of the story sought throughout her life, that was of freedom
from her oppressive husband who did not pay any attention to her happiness. The death
of the husband was a source of joy for her as she could enjoy the life she wanted after his
death.
Identify Author and Title:
The title of the story is ‘Story of an Hour’ authored by Katie Chopin in the year
1894
Basic Background of Text: One to two sentences
The story is set against the background of the late Victorian period.
Outline of the Story
This particular story is about a woman by the name Louise Mallard who had been
leading a tragic life as she was never provided the life which she desired for from her

married life and her husband. She was like most other women of the Victorian era, who
had a troubled married life, which was a matter of the social custom and norm. Louise
Mallard suffered from a troubled heart condition and any form of emotional upheaval
triggered by either positive or negative emotions could lead her to death. The story
revolves around the desire of Louise Mallard to seek freedom from her troubled married
life, which Kate Chopin had tried to project as the general reality. However the respite
from the troubled marriage was a distant reality for Louise Mallard and the only she
sought freedom from her troubled married life was by means of the death of her. The
tidings of the death of her husband had overwhelmed her with a sense of euphoria. The
story ends abruptly as Louise Mallard passes away as a result of the impact of the
prophetic tidings of the death of her husband, which leaves the reader with a sense of
confusion as in what exactly had freed Louise Mallard from her troubled marriage, the
death of her husband or her own death.
Literary devices used
The most profound literary device used in the entire story has been that of
hyperbole, or exaggeration. The literary device of hyperbole has been used to describe
mainly the emotional upheavals and the motions in the nature which were projected as
having an echo in the mind of Louise Mallard. The hyperbole had been projected by
means of making effective usage of the language and the imageries which had brought
about the emotions of Louise Mallard beautifully.
Thesis Statement:
“She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver
with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a

peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing
reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves.”
This particular extract from the story justifies the thesis statement that the death
of the husband was more of an opportunity for Louise Mallard to rejoice than be sad
about it as it was a ticket to enjoyment for her than of being mournful.
Topic Sentence: Identifies focus of the paragraph; should clearly connect to /
develop / support the thesis statement.
“Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously. She was beginning to recognize this
thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her
will--as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been. When she
abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips.”
This is the basis of the topic sentence as it is reflective of the euphoria of the
woman on the death of her husband as she could lead her life the way she wanted without
any interference. The female
Examples from the Text: This can take the form of two to three short examples or
one extended example. Introduce Example:
“There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live
for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with
which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-
creature. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she
looked upon it in that brief moment of illumination.”