Commentary on The Story Of An Hour Essay

The Story of an Hour

There is a controversial story about real wishes and sacrifices of a young married woman which she is unable to realize until the tragic moment shakes her consciousness. This short story is called The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin. No matter how cruel and unusual it seems, her husbands death becomes a reason for Mrs. Mallard to find herself, free her body and soul, and feel joy of life and all of what marriage fails to give.

Joy is more unreachable than people tend to think. It is not easy to find and sometimes to share feelings with your partner is not easy. Some do not get that spiritual joy which would fill oneself with happiness and self-fulfillment. Mrs. Mallard felt joy: creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air (2). That was the moment for which her soul was waiting, and this moment finally reached her due to the loss of her partner, her husband to whom she sacrificed years of her life. The realization of her true feelings and desires had shaken her consciousness. She wished to enjoy her own life, away from marriage.

Although the loss of her husband turned her to life, the situation seems unusual. Mrs. Mallard desired to be independent: There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself (3). Finally, she realized that marriage is not a best choice, and now wanted to live for herself enjoying her own freedom. Although she was considered to be selfish, marriage is a personal choice. In reality, choosing to get married to someone leads to obligations and dependency on that person. For Mrs. Mallard though marriage has appeared to be an abuse, though she did not notice the whole power of that abuse until that day when she was told that her husband is gone. Now that she has lost her husband Mrs. Mallard imagined:

There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. (3)

Regardless of the act Mrs. Mallard is happy and shows signs of relief that her husband is gone (3). This young woman had a kind of personality for which it is unbearable to belong to someone other than herself. Getting free from belonging to others was her chance to gain spiritual freedom even if it cost the loss of her husband. One day has changed her life-perception, and she wanted to erase her past of dependency and start her own free happy life without being tied with marriage.

Many people would say that life without love is empty. However, Mrs. Mallard lost herself giving years of life to her husband. Such sacrifice has ruined this young lady. And perhaps marriage has nothing to do with love. And love has nothing to do with being happy: And yet she had loved himsometimes. Often she had not (3). The quote gives a blurry understanding that love is not as important, not a necessary component of marriage and not always able to bring constant happiness. With an absence of love there is no reason to get married.

Although Mrs. Mallard has left this life early, that one hour of joy given to her was more than her whole life. This young woman has died happily. She is among those lucky ones who had a chance to realize the purpose of her life and the sacrifice she gave. She died from a heart disease called, Joy that kills (4). That joy and freedom which she gained so suddenly could not coexist with conditions of earthly life where past is not leaving but comes back.