The Story Of An Hour Kate Chopin Mla Citation
The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a short story that explores the feelings and emotions of a woman who receives the news of her husband's death. The story is set in the late nineteenth century and reflects the social norms and expectations of that time. The story is a powerful reflection on a woman's desire for freedom and the challenges she faces in pursuing that freedom. This article will provide a comprehensive analysis of The Story of an Hour, including an MLA citation for the story, its themes, characters, and literary devices used by Chopin.
The Story Of An Hour Kate Chopin MLA Citation
The Story of an Hour was written by Kate Chopin and originally published in Vogue Magazine in 1894. The MLA citation for the story is:
Chopin, Kate. "The Story of an Hour." Vogue Magazine, 6 Dec. 1894, pp. 1-2.
The story was later included in Chopin's collection of short stories, "The Awakening and Selected Short Stories." The collection was published in 1976 and is still widely read and studied today.
Themes of The Story of an Hour
The Story of an Hour explores several themes, including freedom, marriage, and mortality. The story is set in the late nineteenth century when women were expected to be subservient to their husbands and were not allowed to pursue their own desires and ambitions. The story reflects the struggle of women to break free from these expectations and to pursue their own dreams and aspirations.
The theme of marriage is also explored in the story. The protagonist, Louise Mallard, is described as having "a heart trouble" and is said to have "wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment" upon hearing the news of her husband's death. However, as the story progresses, it is revealed that Louise is not mourning her husband's death but is instead experiencing a sense of freedom and liberation.
The theme of mortality is also explored in the story. The protagonist's realization of her own mortality and the fragility of life is a central theme of the story. Louise realizes that life is short and that she must seize the opportunity to live her life to the fullest.
Characters in The Story of an Hour
The Story of an Hour has two main characters: Louise Mallard and Brently Mallard. Louise is the protagonist of the story and is described as having "a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength." Brently Mallard is Louise's husband and is described as "kind, loving husband" who "had never looked save with love upon her."
Other characters in the story include Josephine, Louise's sister, who is described as "young, with a fair, calm face, and whose lines bespoke of repression and even a certain strength," and Richards, Brently's friend, who brings the news of Brently's death to Louise.
Literary Devices Used in The Story of an Hour
Kate Chopin uses several literary devices in The Story of an Hour, including symbolism, irony, and foreshadowing. The story is full of symbolism, including the open window that represents Louise's desire for freedom and the spring time that symbolizes rebirth and renewal.
The story is also full of irony. For example, Louise's reaction to her husband's death is ironic because it is not what the reader would expect from a typical widow. Louise's realization of her own mortality is also ironic because it comes at a time when she is experiencing a sense of freedom and liberation.
Foreshadowing is also used in the story, particularly in the description of Louise's heart trouble. The heart trouble is a metaphor for Louise's sense of confinement and restriction in her marriage. It foreshadows her eventual realization of her desire for freedom.
Conclusion
The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a powerful reflection on a woman's desire for freedom and the challenges she faces in pursuing that freedom. The story explores several themes, including freedom, marriage, and mortality, and uses several literary devices, including symbolism, irony, and foreshadowing. The story's MLA citation is Chopin, Kate. "The Story of an Hour." Vogue Magazine, 6 Dec. 1894, pp. 1-2. The story remains an important work of American literature and is still widely read and studied today.