Submitted by: Submitted by DreamQueen
Views: 120
Words: 280
Pages: 2
Category: Literature
Date Submitted: 06/07/2014 03:10 PM
Within paragraphs 14 and 15 of a “Story of an Hour”, the author gave a very strong emphasis into the imagery of freedom. The image was given immediately following the passing of a spouse. Normally, one would imagine a grieving wife trying to comprehend life without her life partner. The illustration given was one of an oppressed female that now has her second freedom. It’s a freedom that she has known before, more than likely prior to marriage, and it’s a freedom that she will now return to having. Throughout most marriages, the role of a wife is one of submission. A “good wife” is seen as one that subjects herself to her husband’s needs which can lead to sometimes even a loss of self identity. The wife not only takes on his last name but sometimes her personality can be one that fades away over time. Basically, she is no longer seen as an individual but rather as a belonging.
The sense of freedom that has now been granted to Mrs. Mallard is a bittersweet freedom. She no longer has to be at some one’s beck and call. Though she was married to a loving, caring man, being seeing as an individual, one that existed before the exchange of vows, had a greeter joy. It is only right to assume that maybe within this marriage she truly did allow herself to fade into his image. We can see this possibly in how the story was written. She is addressed as “Mrs. Mallard”, no first name, no indication of a personal hint about this woman only her title and the joy she now has to be released of it.