“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin — Literature Analysis on the Forbidden Joy of Independence

Through Mrs. Mallard’s experiences, Chopin’s literary work explores the theme of the forbidden joy of independence. The story occurs in the late nineteenth century when societal norms and expectations frequently restricted women’s lives. Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to the news of her husband’s demise is complicated and uncovers her yearning for a life of her own. Chopin says, “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself” (175). However, the happiness she feels at the thought of her newfound independence lasts only briefly, ultimately leading to a tragic ending. The way Chopin approaches this subject clarifies the limited opportunities women had at this time and the repercussions of defying societal expectations. Furthermore, marriage was typically regarded as a social and legal institution in the nineteenth century, involving uniting people of the opposite sex. In numerous social orders, it was viewed as the regular and essential result of close connections between people of the opposite gender. This paper will examine the theme of ‘the forbidden joy of independence’ in ‘The Story of an Hour’ and why even though the marriage may be oppressive to both partners, it is mainly an oppressive vehicle for women.

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In many cultures, married women were expected to submit to their husbands in the nineteenth century and were to put their traditional roles above their desires. During this era, men dominated society since they acted as authoritative figures and leaders within the family, which considerably impacted societal norms and beliefs. Mohammed and Frank used philosophical musing of critical examination to criticize gender inequality and patriarchal exploitation within the context of marriage by inferring that women’s liberation and marriage during the nineteenth were incompatible because when a woman sought independence, they often encountered conflict and resentment (12). The idea of patriarchy was deeply deep-rooted in many societies, and wives were required to obey their husbands as part of their responsibilities. Therefore

, some societies strictly regulated marriage by religion and customs, which hindered women from seeking freedom and independence since women were expected to follow strict gender roles, which included submitting to their husbands.

Additionally, Chopin portrays how Mrs. Mallard’s submission to her husband is evident through her response to the news of his alleged demise. When Mrs. Mallard learns of her husband’s demise, she is overwhelmed. She cried uncontrollably and ended up hiding in her room. Chopin says that “… with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment…(175). This response suggests that Mrs. Mallard has been accustomed to believing that her life depends entirely on her husband. However, her feeling shifts as the story advances when she starts feeling excited, concluding that her husband’s death means freedom and independence for her. Mrs. Mallard whispers, “Free! Body and soul free!” (Chopin 175), when she realizes she is no longer under her husband’s control. She recognizes that her husband has consistently treated her kindly and delicately. Yet, she recognizes that he had forced his will upon her and that she had consistently submitted to it. Thus, Mrs. Mallard’s experience as a married woman enabled her to view her husband’s death as an opening to freedom, making her feel that after grieving her husband, she will have no one to follow since she is free.

Marriage was considered essential in the nineteenth century because it established family life and gender roles. Marriage was perceived as a long-lasting obligation of a woman with the main objective of having children and ensuring that they performed their domestic duties to have a stable household. Suneja, however, challenged this view by arguing that women were able to express their opposing views through the physical design of books, such as the use of decorative elements and the inclusion of frontispieces and other illustrations, when case binding of books became popular in the middle of the 19th century (2). It is because, during the 19th century, women’s marriage legal status was also extremely restrictive. A married woman had no legal rights to her earning, children, or property—all of which were considered the husband’s property, which made them lack self-independence. Therefore, to gain the freedom and independence they need, women must challenge societal norms by embracing any possibility of succeeding independently.

Despite her newfound freedom, Mrs. Mallard continues to worry about how she will survive without her husband. She hesitates and wonders if she is ready to embrace her newfound independence when she looks out the window and sees the “new spring life” outside. This hesitation suggests that Mrs. Mallard is not yet fully prepared to break free of the submission in her marriage, even though she has acknowledged it. When Mrs. Mallard dies of shock after learning that her husband is not dead, it shows she is submissive to him. Her demise suggests that the prospect of returning to submission and reliance on her husband was excessively overpowering for her to bear and that her acknowledgment of her submission has come too late for her to make any significant change to gain freedom and independence life. Therefore, even though the doctors declared the cause of death to be joy, the shock that her freedom and independence were short-lived caused her to have a severe heart attack that led to her demise.

Marriage was frequently viewed at this time as an economic transaction in which families exchanged property, wealth, and social status. Particularly for women, it was expected that they would marry for financial security rather than for love or personal fulfillment. Looser explored the social context of marriage and family duty during the period that Jane Austen was writing, arguing that the concept of family duty was the central aspect of social life, which impacted how marriage was understood and practiced. She says, “In the 19th century, marriage was seen as a tool for linking prosperous families and consolidating present and future land and wealth. “In this setting, marriage was frequently viewed as a transactional arrangement in which people sought partners who could provide them with social status and financial security. People were expected to put their family’s needs ahead of their desires, and love and personal compatibility were secondary concerns. Therefore, married women often struggle to balance their desire for love and independence with the demands of family duty, and they often find themselves at odds with societal expectations.

To add to the point above,  this indicates that women’s freedom and independence were overlooked. That is why when Louise Mallard, the main character, learned about her husband’s demise, she viewed herself as someone free to prioritize her need to live her life on her terms without seeking her husband’s approval. Chopin says, “When she abandoned herself, a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: “free, free, free!” ” Through this, it can be understood that the theme of ‘the forbidden joy of independence’ is explained by how Miss Mallard reacted to the possibility of being a free woman after her husband’s death since she had lived a miserable life without love which is shown by how she had vacant stare and the look of terror. Therefore, since marriage was an economic transaction, many women did not marry for love making them live miserable lives and longing for freedom because divorce was likewise profoundly stigmatized and challenging to acquire in many societies, leaving numerous people caught in miserable relationships.

In conclusion, the theme of the “forbidden joy of independence” is portrayed through the character of Mrs. Mallard, who feels trapped in her marriage. After learning that her husband had died, she experienced a moment of happiness since she would be a free and independent woman. This reaction demonstrated the oppression that married women were going through since they were expected to perform their traditional gender roles to meet societal expectations. These roles made it challenging for women to be independent since the patriarchal society did not allow women to own any property and to depend completely on their husbands. As a result, when Mrs. Millard was told that her husband had died, she felt that she would finally be free; however, her happiness was short-lived when her husband turned up alive, resulting in her experiencing shock that led to her death. Moreover, marriage in the nineteenth century was an institution that supported traditional gendered roles and forced strict social norms that restricted women’s legal rights. Therefore, Chopin explored the theme of “the forbidden joy of independence” and suggested that marriage can be a restrictive institution that prevents women from reaching their full potential and finding true happiness.

Works Cited

Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” Vcu.edu, 1894, archive.vcu.edu/english/engweb/webtexts/hour/.

Looser, Devoney. “Marriage and the Concept of Family Duty in Jane Austen’s Times.” Wondrium Daily, 6 July 2022, www.wondriumdaily.com/marriage-and-the-concept-of-family-duty-in-jane-austens-times/#:~:text=In%20the%2019th%20century%2C%20marriage.

Mohammed, Jowan A., and Frank Jacob. Marriage Discourses: Historical and Literary Perspectives on Gender Inequality and Patriarchic Exploitation. De Gruyter, 2021.

Suneja, Carolyn. Printed and Bound: the Publishers’ Case Binding and 19th-century Women’s Critique of Marriage. Diss. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2022. https://search.proquest.com/openview/b82748f33bbb4ff3be6ec889205bb2be/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y