Analysis-of-The-story-of-an-hour-一小时的故事文学赏析

1Reading“TheStoryofanHour”：AFeministPerspective“TheStoryofanHour”hasthemaincharacterMrs.Mallardshowthoughtsandemotionsthatcansupportandgoagainstthefeministtheory.Atthebeginningofthestory,Mrs.Mallardisovercomewithgriefwiththelossofherhusband.Thisshowsthatthefemaleisanemotionalpersoncomparedtomen.Itwasnaturaltoknowthatshewouldbeupsetwiththedeathofherhusband,butthestoryhadbothhersisterandherhusband’sfriendbetheretobreakthenewstoher.Mrs.Mallardhasheartproblemswhichcanmakethereaderseeherasaweakerpersonrightatthebeginningofthestory.Fromthestart,weasreadersaretoldtoseeMrs.Mallardasanaturallyweakercharacter.AnotherwaytomakeMrs.Mallardappearasaweakerpersonwaswhenshewenttoherroomalonetocontinuehergrief.Aftersheentersherroomshegoestothechairandthestorysays,“Intothisshesank,presseddownbyaphysicalexhaustionthathauntedherbodyandseemedtoreachintohersoul.”Thisshowsusthatherstrongemotionscausedherphysicalexhaustion.Notonlywassheemotional,butnowthestoryshowsthatMrs.Mallardcan’tevenhandleitphysicallyeither.Itgoesevenfurthertosaythattheweaknessevengoesintohersoul.Aftershesitsdown,Mrs.Mallardbeginstoappearasastrongerwomanwhichiswherethefeministtheorytakeseffect.Shelooksoutofthehousethroughthelargeopenwindowwhichcouldalsosignifytheopenopportunitiesavailabletohernow.Shebeginstoseehowhermarriagemadeherintoalesserperson.Sherealizesthatshehasbeenlivingherlifethroughlimitationscausedfrombeingmarried.Mrs.Mallardknowsthatshecanbegintoliveforherself.Thestorysays,“Therewouldbenopowerfulwillbendinghersinthatblindpersistencewithwhichmenandwomenbelievetheyhavearighttoimposeaprivatewillupona2fellow-creature.”Thisquoteshowsthefeministtheorythatitwasassumedwomenwereoppressedandshowsthepatriarchalideology.Shewasbendingherwillandfreedomtoawhitemanthatheldallofthecontrolintherelationship.Marriage,inthisstory,appearstobethemalehavingcompletecontroloverthewoman.ItalsoseemslikeMrs.Mallardthoughtthatshewasn’tevenallowedtohaveherownthoughtswhichwasprobablytrue.Toquestionyourhusbandatthisperiodintimemeantthatyouwerebeinganoutofcontrolwife.Mrs.Mallardgoesontorealizehowmuchshereallydidn’tloveherhusband.Shedoesn’tfeeltheneedtohaveguiltoveritsinceheisalreadygone.Shefinallybreaksawayfromtheroleforcedontoherastheperfectwifeandcanbegintostopholdingherselfback.Thiscanshowthereaderthatawomanatthistimemightnotevenbeawareofjusthowmuchofherselfshehastoholdbackwhenmarried.ItseemslikeMrs.Mallarddidn’tallowherselfthethoughtsofbeingcompletelyfreefromhimandwhatshewillbeabletodowhenhe’snolongeraround,untilhewasactuallydead.IthinkthatthestoryalsoshowshowMrs.Mallarddevelopsherownidentity.Asareader,wearetoldthathernameisMrs.Mallardatthebeginning.ThroughhergriefoflosingherhusbandsheisstillMrs.Mallardtous.Thisshowsthathertitleisreallyjustthenamegiventoherwithherhusband’slastname.Shehasnoidentityasherown;sheisjustawomanthatbelongstoMr.Mallard.Aftersherealizeshowfreesheis,webegintoseeherasanactualperson.Heremotionsandthoughtsaren’taboutherdeadhusbandanymore;insteadit’saboutherlivingwithoutlimits.Shecomesintoherownindividualperson.ItisrightafterthesethoughtsthatwehearhesistercallingherLouise.Herbeingcalledbyhergivennamecansignifythatsheisnowanequaltomen.Sheisnolongerbeingheldbackbytheroleofawife.3“TheStoryofanHour”alsoshowshowthethoughtsofawomancanchangewithoutthelimitations.Mrs.Mallardthoughtoftimedifferentlyafterthedeathofherhusband.Thestorysays,“Shebreathedaquickprayerthatlifemightbelong.Itwasonlyyesterdayshehadthoughtwithashudderthatlifemightbelong.”Thedeathofherhusbandgaveheranewlookoflifeinherfuture.Nowthatshecouldliveforherself,shewantednothingmorethantohavealongtimetoenjoyit.Whenshewasforcedintotheroleoftimidandobedientwife,shedidn’tseeapointinliving.Shewouldhaveratherdiedyoungthentohavetoobeyherhusbandfortherestofherlife.Withthisfreedomcametheironyofthestory.Aftershesaysthis,herhusbandwalksintotheirhomeandsherealizesthathewasn’treallydeadallalong.Shefinallyallowedherselftothinkofherlifeaslivingforherself.Ithinkthattheshockanddisappointmentinnotbeingallowedthenewlifeiswhatkilledher.Shegotherwishintheendandlivedashortlife,whichiswhatshewantedallalongifshewasforcedtoliveherlifeforherhusband.Itseemslikeherbodygaveherwhathermindwanted.Itisalsoironicbecauselikeinthebeginning,sheismadetoappeartobeaweakercharacterbecauseofherheartcondition.Intheend,thisweaknessiswhateveryonethinkskilledher,andnotherresistanceofbeingputbackintotherolethatwasforcedandexpectedofher.