In her short story, The Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin demonstrates her own views about

marriage through the thoughts and actions of the main character, Louise.The overarching theme
of the story wouldve been somewhat very controversial back in the 1890s and even today. Her
tone is one of dislike towards marriage and reveals a lot about her attitude towards this
particular subject.

To begin with, Chopins overarching theme is that being a woman is a burden, both of the mind
and body. Now, before we going any deeper, I think that its important to note that the time
setting of this story is in 1894. This was a Victorian Era, an era in which men had complete
power and authority. Women had little to no say in public and domestic affairs. With that point
made, the most definite proof of this theme comes about halfway through the story, when
Louise whispers, Free! Body and soul free! However, this isnt the only clue as to Chopins
subtle message. Right from the get-go, Chopin introduces Louise to the reader as a young lady
with heart trouble. Now typically, from reading the next sentence, the reader will most likely
conclude that her heart is in bad health. However, after reading the whole story, the reader can
realize that Louises heart trouble wasnt an health issue but an emotional as she had a troubled
heart, a troubled heart about her situation in her marriage. When news of her husbands death
reaches her, Louise automatically breaks down. However, she starts to feel a sense of joy that
she at first tries to suppress, but eventually, she embraces this newfound joy of freedom. She
then feels confident enough to come outside the door, and Chopin writes, There was a feverish
triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwitting like a goddess of Victory. Another detail
worth mentioning is Chopins description of Louises surrounding as she is crying. While Louise
is contemplating about Brently Mallards death, Chopin starts to paint a picture of a beautiful
spring outside among the plants. Chopin writes, She could see in the open square before her
house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain
was in the air. This in turn sends us a symbolic message that, in marriage, the death of her
spouse was the beginning of a new life for Louise. So overall, Chopin very subtlety sends a very
controversial message that marriage is a burden to women and that being single offers a
woman freedom and power over herself.

Chopins tone toward this subject of the story is one of ironic despair. The use of irony is
apparent in a few spot through the story. At first, Chopin begins the story with a conflicting
picture of grief and new life. Eventually, Louise rejoices in her new founded power and freedom
over herself as she is freed from the power of the man that owned her. As Louise slowly gained
confidence over time, she comes out of her room and walks down the stairs only to see that her
husband was actually alive. As a result, Louise, as she feels that will be unable to live without
her newfound power over her life, ultimately dies of heart trouble. The minor ironic detail is
Louises heart. In the beginning, it was because of her troubled heart that Louise grieved but
then found happiness in freedom. However, it was ultimately because of her heart that she died
at the sight of her husband. The main irony is that women will never escape from the power of
men. Louise was feeling so free and joyful because her man was dead only to die because of
that very same man. So, Chopins tone of irony and despair is quite apparent.

This topic of male dominance and female independence would have been a very controversial
topic to write about back in 1894. Because society was so male oriented, any challenge to the
social ideal of male dominance wouldve been severely repressed. Even today, in some
religions, females are still powerless to act on there own accord and are only looked upon as
mothers and housewives.
Overall, Chopin presents a clear yet subtle message that seems to show the hardships of
womanhood during the Victorian Era. Her tone of ironic despair shows that she promotes
womens freedom but feels that man just have a too big of a grip on society for such a notion to


come true. Finally, because of the societal values of the Victorian Era, ideas promoting women
independence and freedom wouldve caused riots and thus such a topic and message had to be
delivered subtlety as in this case of this short story, The Story of an Hour.