Story+of+an+Hour

​​Name: Casey Hilferty, Laura Chieffo, Joanna Stauffer

Posting:


 * Summary:** Mrs. Mallard is introduced as being afflicted with heart trouble. This is introduced as others attempt to figure out a way to tell her her husband has died in a gentle way. Her reaction begins with sadness but she realizes her new found freedom from her unhappy marriage. After secluding herself in her bedroom, she ponders the years to come without her husband. She declares herself "free, free, free!" After, what is assumed, an hour her sister Josephine brings her out of her room. Simultaneously her, thought to be, dead husband Brently Mallard enters through the front door. Richards, who had been with Mrs. Mallard and gave her the news of the death, quickly tries to stop Mrs. Mallard from seeing her husband. He is too slow, Mrs. Mallard sees Brently Mallard and dies. She is said to have died from heart disease which would today be called heart attack.

(See Discussion for copy of summary)

Mrs. Mallard- An unhappy Victorian era wife Josephine- Her sister Richards- A close friend of Mr. Mallard who works as a reporter Mr. Brently Mallard- Mrs. Mallard's husband

We thought that the heart condition that Mrs. Mallard has is symbolic to her status as a dominated and unhappy wife. Her weak heart is to be taken physically and literally. We used a feminist approach to look at the way her husband treated her. "She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certian strength." (Pg. 343) This quote is used to show that she was a strong woman despite her husband's ways. Her husband is described as soul crushing. She is described as joyous at the death of her husband. She thinks about how she wants that her life to be long now that she does not have a husband in her life anymore. This is ironic because she dies shortly after. Mrs. Mallard thinks about her free future without having to be oppressed. She sits and looks out the window, which represents how wide open her future is and how she is now in control of her life. The weather outside is bright and sunny, and she looks out to the spring sky. "Her fancy was running riot along those days ahead of her. Spring days and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own." (Pg. 343) Her death is symbolic of the death of her happiness and freedom. As she sees her husband alive and healthy, her weak heart is unable to handle the disappointment of the loss of her potential future, and she dies of a heart attack from the shock. She dies of a "joy that kills", which we thought might have to do with the way that she was so excited about her life without her husband so that she dies from the thought of her life with her husband. This story is about a woman that does not need a husband in order to be happy. She is secure in herself and believes that her husband crushes her opportunities for success.
 * Analysis:**