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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay on nineteenth century author Kate Chopin's short story, "The Story of an Hour." The writer explains and discusses the reaction of Louise Mallard to news of her husband's death in terms of the restrictions of patriarchy. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
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3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khchosth.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
husband has been killed in a train wreck, but collapses from a heart attack when he walks through the door (Hackett 82). While this is a concise description of the
story, this thumbnail sketch leaves out the complexity and nuance of Chopins narrative--a narrative that dramatically shows the emotional burden imposed by patriarchal marriage. Examination of this short story demonstrates
that this is an eloquent and moving argument against the social mores that defined marriage at that time. Louise Mallard is Chopins protagonist, and the reader is told in
the first paragraph that she suffers from a heart condition. Because of her condition, her sister Josephine and a family friend try to be gentle when they inform her that
her husband has been killed in a train accident. However, there is, of course, no way to break such news gently. Louise is not heartless. Chopin writes that "She wept
at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sisters arms" (Chopin). However, then she retires to her room, physically exhausted. As she sits there, numb, she realizes that "There
was something coming to her" (Chopin). Louise meets this "something" with a mixture of emotions, as "fear and anticipation" are obviously present (Deneau 210). While initially terrified, as if she
is being raped, the experience evolves into something that is "sensually stimulating, relaxing, and, of course, spiritually illuminating" -- a "rape" with an "ironic outcome" (Deneau 210). What happens to
Louise is that she realizes that she is free. The "something" is the realization that she is free from the trap of patriarchal marriage. She realizes that with no husband,
there is no longer a man to whom she must shape herself and her will to please. "There would be no powerful will bending hers" and she "would live for
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