Symbolism in The Story of an Hour

This essay analyzes the symbolism in Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour, focusing on the rain and blossoming trees as representations of the protagonist's emotional transformation. It explores how the death of her husband sets her free from the confines of marriage and allows her to start a new life. The essay also discusses the secretive nature of her joy and relief, as well as the societal expectations of widowhood.

Surname 1
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Subject
2/13/2009
The Story of an Hour
Question 1
When Louise Mallard retires to her room to reflect upon the death of her husband, we are
told that “she could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver
with the new spring of life” (Chopin 1). This view is symbolic of the relief and joy that Louise
comes to feel when she learns of her husband’s death. Like the trees which are presumably
springing to new life due to the changing season, Louise’s life is transformed by the death of her
husband.
From the confines of her room, Louise observes the welcome changes taking place in the
environment outside. In addition to the trees which are blossoming with new life, a “delicious
breath of rain” oozes into the room from outside (Chopin 1). The rain will presumably accelerate
the pace of changes in plant life; essentially rejuvenating them further. This rain represents the
force behind the transformation in the environment. In comparison to Louise’s situation, the rain
is comparable to the death of her husband. The death of Robert Mallard sets Louise free from the
confines of marriage. This effectively propels her into a new life where she is free of the
responsibilities associated with marriage.

Surname 2
Louise is described as “young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression…”
(Chopin 1). The repression is presumably a reference to the stresses associated with marriage. In
marriage, Louise always had to factor in her husband when making decisions. Further, the
husband could easily impose his will on her in one way or another. However, it is evident from
Louse’s reflections that she willfully submitted to the subordination of her will at the expense of
her husband (Chopin 2). This notwithstanding, Louise still felt the effects of the stresses of
matrimony as evidenced by the lines on her face. This repression is akin to the withering of trees
and other plants during the dry season. Like the rains are bring rejuvenation for plants, Louise
feels relieved from the repression associated with marriage when she learns that her husband is
dead. Now she could live a different life devoid of the repressive marital responsibilities.
The fact that Louise views the scene of the blossoming trees from the confines of her
room highlights the secretive nature of her joy and relief upon her husband’s alleged death.
Openly, when her sister and husband’s friend give her the news, she cries with genuine sadness.
She does not dare to think about the implications of the death on her freedom in the presence of
the others. Rather, the realizations come to her when she is safely secluded within the privacy of
her room. She grieves as expected in the presence of others but secretly feels joy in private.
Essentially, this symbolizes that the public would not expect Louise to express the relief and joy
she feels upon realizing that the death of her husband has freed her from the repression of
marriage. This is confirmed by the reaction of her sister when she comes knocking at Louise’s
door. The sister expresses concern that Louise will make herself ill with grief presumably in light
of her heart condition (Chopin 2). It does not occur to Josephine that her sister could be feeling
joy and relief rather than intense grief.

Surname 3
In conclusion, the rainfall and blossoming trees that Louise perceives from the confines
of her room are symbolic of the death of her husband and the associated emotional
transformation that Louise undergoes respectively. Like the changes occurring to plants due to
the rainfall, Louise realizes the changes to her physical and mental state brought about by the
death of Robert Mallard. Like the trees, she is now free to begin a new life. However, this
thoughts and realization only occur to her in seclusion and she does not express them publicly.
This is in compliance with societal norms whereby it is expected that a widow will grieve upon
the death of her spouse rather than feel happy and relieved.

Surname 4
Works Cited
Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1894.