The Short of an Hour by Kate Chopin

In the short story "The Short Of An Hour" by Kate Chopin, The authors choice of words creates imagery in every moment of Mrs. Mallards life, and long wanted freedom. The story overall represents symbolism in regards to her repression an lack of freedom. When Mrs. Mallard finally claims the identity she had been waiting for after the death of her husband; it is instantly revoked because he was in fact alive. Kate in many ways shows symbolism throughout her writing she descriptively takes the reader through the different stages of Louise's life but behind certain thoughts Kate uses the situation to symbolize the irony of Mrs. Mallard's inner self.

Kate Chopin connects all the negativity surrounding Louise and gives her a fatal heart disease. In the beginning she uses foreshadowing stating "Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble."(Kate1) The author's choices of words were important in this quote because the heart disease is what killed Mrs. Mallard. When news broke about the death of Brently everyone wanted to proceed with caution not knowing the reaction of Louise and if her heart would be able to take on the burden of losing her husband. Although the author does not go into the depths of Mrs. Mallard's heart condition the universal thought was that Mrs. Mallard's repression in her life and marriage is what played a role in her demise.

The window however symbolized something positive the author depicts what Mrs. Mallard wanted all along she states "There were patches of blue sky. She could see in the open square before her house the tops trees that were all aquiver with new spring life. The delicious breathe of rain was in the air." The meaning behind the quote and what the author was trying to portray is the moment when Mrs. Mallard was gazing through the window, the window to her symbolized a life that she wanted for herself a fresh beginning, and although her husband had died she allowed herself to take advantage of the opportunity to now be free. The window was more than just a window in the context it was Mrs. Mallard taking on a new identity and escaping her repression.

"The Story Of An Hour" by Kate Chopin was a perfect example of symbolism. The author inferred many things to the reader without actually stating it in the story but I was able to go deeper into the text and discover what situation showed the most symbolism. Mrs. Mallard's heart condition caused her to die at the re appearance of Mr. Brently. Kate Chopin states "when the doctors arrived they said she had died of heart disease of the joy that kills." When Mrs. Mallard passed a way she was no longer Mr. Brently's wife the author used symbolism to show her transition into Louise her death freed her from everything she no longer wanted to be held back from. That was the joy the author tried to demonstrate to the readers in the end.