There Is Always an Antagonist

There Is Always an Antagonist

In the late nineteenth century, there wasn’t much an unhappily married woman could

do about her situation. That is why Louise Mallard’s state of shock immediately following the

sudden death of her husband in “The Story of an Hour” quickly evolves into something much

different. Kate Chopin concludes her narrative with a clever and tragic surprise that brings up

many questions which of course include inquiries as to who is to blame for the unhappiness and

eventual premature demise that Louise endures. Often, the antagonist is easily identifiable, but

that is not so in this case. Chopin writes the story in a way that leaves the determination of the

antagonist open to interpretation by the reader.

Louise herself may have said that her enemy was the feeling she strived to ward off when

it started to surface on the spring day on which the story is set. The emotion was a joy that takes

hold of her shortly after she learns of her husband’s demise. Prior to even identifying the “thing”

(Chopin 15), she decides that it is wrong to accept it and attempts to halt its approach. When

she fails, she seems to become a different person. This could be viewed as some kind of manic

episode or even possession, neither a positive response to the death of a loved one. If Louise died

of disappointment at seeing her husband alive and well, it could be argued that whatever she felt

that day indirectly led to her death. Therefore, it would be easy to say that whatever it was that

came over Mrs. Mallard, it was not a force for good.

A very different, but valid perspective might identify Mr. Mallard as an unintentional

antagonist. Although he presumably loved his wife, Brently Mallard came off to his wife as

controlling to some degree, although maybe he didn’t always realize that he was doing it or that

it was even a problem. Louise obviously considered it an issue, which becomes evident when

she rejoices her freedom from either Brently,...