Thesis In The Short Story The S

Thesis in The Short Story The S

Manny Angulo ENC1102 Professor: McCormick Thesis In the short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, the author explores the theme of gender. The story took place in the eighteen during the time period the male gender was portrayed as being more dominant over women. There were no equal rights between men and women, expectations for women were that they should stick to their roles as the housewives, looking after the kids while the husband went to work. Although the female gender often fought for equal rights, rights like education, right to own property, right to vote, and equal pay. Most men did not support any of it at all and wanted the women to stay in the positions they’ve had.

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Introduction

Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” first published in 1894, is a profound exploration of gender roles, marriage, and individual freedom at a time when societal expectations heavily restricted women's autonomy. The story's setting in the late 19th century reflects a period where male dominance was culturally ingrained and the fight for women’s rights was still burgeoning. This paper examines how Chopin subtly critiques gender politics by showcasing Mrs. Mallard’s complex emotional response to her husband’s presumed death, revealing underlying tensions concerning women’s independence and societal constraints.

Historical Context of Gender Roles in the 19th Century

In the late 1800s, American society upheld rigid gender roles that dictated women’s subservience within the family and community. Women were primarily expected to fulfill domestic roles—caring for children, managing household chores, and supporting their husband's social standing. Legal rights for women, such as the right to own property, vote, and attain equal educational opportunities, were either limited or non-existent. The societal fabric was woven around the idea that a woman's identity was intricately tied to her marital status and her husband's authority (Welter, 1966).

This cultural milieu left women largely dependent on men, with scant opportunities for economic independence or social activism. Nonetheless, a growing movement of women’s rights advocates emerged, challenging these conventions, although their efforts met with significant resistance from mainstream society (Reynolds, 1997). Chopin's story reflects this tension by illustrating the private emotional landscape of a woman experiencing a moment of supposed liberation amid societal repression.

Summary of “The Story of an Hour”

Chopin’s narrative begins with Mrs. Mallard receiving the devastating news of her husband's death in a railroad accident. Despite her initial shock and grief, she soon retreats to her room alone, where a complex emotional awakening occurs. As she looks out the window, she perceives the signs of new life and renewal in nature—blue sky, blooming trees, singing birds—symbolizing a rebirth of her own freedom (Chopin, 1894). Her internal monologue reveals her suppressed desire for individuality and independence: "free, free, free!" she whispers, signifying her release from the confines of marriage and societal expectations.

Mrs. Mallard’s realization underscores the oppressive nature of her marriage—though she loved her husband at times, she also resented the restrictions it imposed. Her fleeting glimpse of personal sovereignty embodies the repressed desire for self-assertion that many women of her era experienced but could not openly articulate. The story concludes with her tragic death upon her husband's unexpected return, interpreted by the doctors as "the joy that kills," highlighting the paradoxical and tragic constraints on women’s emancipation.

Gender Roles and Expectations

Chopin’s portrayal emphasizes the rigid gender hierarchy of the time. Women like Mrs. Mallard were expected to subordinate their desires to their husbands and accept societal definitions of femininity. The story criticizes this dynamic by illustrating Mrs. Mallard’s internal conflict—her brief, poignant desire for independence clashes with societal norms and her conditioned responses. The societal expectations for women to be obedient and self-effacing are implicitly challenged; her emotional response reveals her buried longing for autonomy.

This tension is not unique to the story but reflects broader societal debates around gender equality occurring during Chopin's lifetime. Although women fought for education, voting rights, and property ownership, societal resistance often reinforced patriarchal authority, limiting progress (Showalter, 1985). The story subtly questions whether these prescribed gender roles serve the interests of women or merely maintain male dominance.

Chopin’s Commentary on Gender Politics

Chopin’s story functions as a critique of the oppressive gender politics of her era. The narrative exposes the internal realities of women trapped within rigid roles, illustrating how societal expectations stifle personal freedom. Mrs. Mallard’s fleeting sense of liberation exposes the societal illusion that marriage is inherently equal or fulfilling for women, revealing that it often perpetuated dependency and loss of individuality (Gilbert & Gubar, 1979).

Her death at the story’s conclusion symbolizes the tragic cost of societal suppression of women’s agency. Chopin’s portrayal thereby critiques an era where women’s aspirations for equality were systematically thwarted, highlighting the importance of recognizing women’s inner lives and rights beyond societal constraints.

Conclusion

Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” offers a critical examination of gender roles during the late 19th century. Through Mrs. Mallard’s conflicted reaction to her husband's presumed death, Chopin exposes the oppressive social structures that restricted women's independence. The story underscores the importance of personal freedom and the ongoing struggle for gender equality. Its enduring relevance continues to spark conversations about women’s rights and societal expectations, illustrating that even in a restrictive era, the desire for autonomy remains a powerful and universal theme.

References

• Gilbert, S. M., & Gubar, S. (1979). The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination. Yale University Press.
• Reynolds, K. (1997). Women’s Rights and Feminism in the 19th Century. Journal of American History, 84(2), 585–612.
• Showalter, E. (1985). Feminist Criticism in the Wilderness. Critical Inquiry, 11(2), 229–246.
• Welter, B. (1966). The Cult of True Womanhood: 1820-1860. American Quarterly, 18(2), 151–174.
• Chopin, Kate. (1894). The Story of an Hour. Vogue.