Alex Gauna
English 1102
Brad Joseph
3/21/2015
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death.
Feminism in the late 19th century was hardly the movement that we know today. During this time the first wave of feminism was only just beginning. The life of the average upper class American women in the 19th century would not be very appealing to today’s modern woman. In general, women had no or very few political rights. She was unable to vote and her political views were limited. Her career choices were also restricted and she was likely destined to be little more than a housewife. Once a woman was married, everything she owned became her husbands and her life was fundamentally entwined with his. Though these issues did not seem oppressive at the time, many women and men were beginning to see the negative effects and consequences brought on by how 19th century American society was treating women, especially at the turn of the century. “The Story of an Hour”, a short story written by the American woman author, Kate Chopin is a social commentary on the oppression of women in 19th century America, and how the only way a woman could find freedom was in death. In the first sentence of Hour the reader is shown how the protagonist’s life is fundamentally tied to the life of her husbands: “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death” (Chopin 246). By tying Louise’s life to the death of her husband the story is foreshadowing that Louise Mallard is not only suffering from her medical condition but also that her marital problems pose a hazard to her health as well. In the moments after learning about her husband’s death Louise transforms from unhealthy and unhappy housewife into a physically strong and liberated widow: “The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.” (246). Not only is Louise reveling in her independence resulting from her husband’s death, her heart is literally becoming stronger, and her life is slowly becoming easier. Her initial grief brought on by her husband’s death is snowballing to euphoria. However, as Louise will soon find out, her new found health and independence cannot exist as long her husband is breathing. This is an important contention because it shows the extent which Louise’s oppression has affected her life force. Indeed, once Bentley makes his appearance in the story, Louise makes her mortal exit. It is important to note that Bentley does not seem to be an abusive or oppressive husband. The only details of Bentley are that he had; “kind, tender hands” and “[A] face that never looked save with love upon her…” (246).This indicates that Bentley was a loving husband and never raised a hand towards Louise. In fact in her own words Louise says she “loved him” (247). It’s not a personal relationship that she is happy to be out of, it is the idea of her role in the traditional relationship that burdens her. That’s why she is so exhilarated at the passing of her husband. It is not necessarily Brentley, but the traditional idea of marriage that has weakened Louise’s heart and made her a prisoner of her life. This idea, that two people who are kind one another and who love each other are actually prisoners in their relationship that only death can free them from, is a scathing critique Chopin is leveling at late 19th century American society.
Comparable to countless wives in late-nineteenth-century America, Louise could be in control of her own life only after the death of her husband. Indeed there are many benefits to being a widow, as Louise points out: “There would be no one to live for…she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers...” (247).The fact that there are no children mentioned throughout the story revels that not only would her