In 1894 the short story “The Story of an Hour” was published in Vogue by Kate Chopin. It is about the thoughts of a woman afflicted with a heart trouble, after she is told that her man died in an accident. In the end it is said that she died of this heart disease. The reader, though, knows that the result of the death must be the surprising attendance of her husband.
Kate Chopin works with this problem of oppressiveness and inequality in the marriage and furthermore she emphasizes the neglect of women. At the time of their publication, her short stories received bad critiques because of the fact that she questioned moral standards like the patriarchy, which was common at that point. However, later in the 1960s she has become famous because of her stories with feminist content .
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Male Dominance and Female Powerlessness in "The Story of an Hour"
- The Powerlessness of Mrs. Mallard
- The Dominance of Brently Mallard
- The Significance of Patriarchy
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the themes of male dominance and female powerlessness in Kate Chopin's short story "The Story of an Hour." It explores the ways in which the story uses symbolism and character development to expose the oppressive nature of traditional gender roles in late 19th-century America.
- The oppression of women within marriage
- The power of freedom and self-discovery
- The destructive nature of societal expectations
- The impact of patriarchy on gender roles
- The importance of challenging societal norms
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The essay begins by establishing the context of the story, highlighting the social and cultural backdrop of the late 19th century, where traditional gender roles were firmly entrenched. The analysis then delves into the character of Mrs. Mallard, focusing on her initial reaction to the news of her husband's death and her subsequent realization of the possibilities for freedom and self-discovery. The essay explores how Chopin uses symbolism, particularly through imagery of nature and music, to portray Mrs. Mallard's growing sense of liberation. Finally, the essay examines the character of Brently Mallard, emphasizing the ways in which his dominance over his wife is revealed through her thoughts and actions. The essay concludes by discussing the significance of patriarchy as a societal construct that perpetuates the oppression of women, urging the reader to consider the importance of challenging traditional gender roles in the pursuit of equality.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key themes and concepts explored in this essay include male dominance, female powerlessness, patriarchy, freedom, self-discovery, societal expectations, oppression, and gender roles. The essay also draws upon symbolic imagery, particularly nature and music, to analyze the characters' experiences and the broader themes of the story.
- Quote paper
- Daniel Schmid (Author), 2017, Male Dominance and Female Powerlessness in Kate Chopin's "The Story Of An Hour", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/356496
