Oh the Joy

Chad Lupoe

Freshman Comp. 112 TR 11:30a.m.

Karen Tucker

January 31, 2013

Oh The Joy

The short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin is one of the more interesting short stories I’ve read.

In the first two paragraphs the story’s exposition is given. Chopin tells us of how because of Mrs. Mallard’s heart problem, her sister and Richard (her husband’s friend) try their best to break the news to her about Mr. Mallard’s death as gently as possible. In the second paragraph she goes on to tell about how Josephine broke the news to Louise in short sentences, and what Richard did to ensure the story to be true. I think this was enough information to begin the story. I think Chopin gave enough basic information to set the story’s scene just right. She may not have given a lot of information because she wanted the reader to create the scene themselves, which is what I did. This minimal information gave me the background of the story, and when I got deeper into it, I was able to paint my own picture of it.

Louise’s antagonist presents itself as her husband’s death. She weeps at the news of Mr. Mallard’s death at first, but as she goes off to her room to be alone, she realizes a kind of gladness in the midst of the bad news. Here the conflict is presented. Chopin says in the story, “She [Loise] was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will…” (Chopin) Louise recognized the feeling that was coming to her was joy, the joy of being free. She tried her best to fight it, but she was as powerless as her two white slender hands. (Chopin)

Louise felt free and basked in the joy of the knowledge that she will only be living for herself for the rest of her life. There would be no powerful will bending hers. (Chopin) But, though blissful about her new freedom, she loved her husband – sometimes. This leads me to believe that there was some love in the relationship. Louise was just overjoyed at the...