Critical Response "Story Of An Hour"

In Kate Chopin's "Story Of An Hour", Chopin tries to convey an underlying message to her readers. On the surface, the readers assume Mrs. Mallard is in mourning for her dead husband, but soon enough the readers uncover that in actuality Mrs. Mallard is rejoicing her husband's death. Specific instances in the story help to reveal this message. For instance, the weather described in the story is spring, and spring usually signifies new life or a sense of freedom. Also, when Mrs. Mallard begins to mutter "free, free, free" it hints to the reader that what they have assumed may not be the case. However, the most important piece of evidence is knowing that in 1894, when the story was written, women did not have the freedoms that a man did and that women were owned by their husbands. Knowing this would be the key to discovering Chopin's underlying message, but even without knowing this there are hints in the story that Chopin provides for her readers.