Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour Essay - 803 Words

In Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour† allows one to explore many ironic instances throughout the story, the main one in which a woman unpredictably feels free after her husband’s assumed death. Chopin uses Mrs. Mallard’s bizarre story to illustrate the struggles of reaching personal freedom and trying to be true to yourself to reach self-assertion while being a part of something else, like a marriage. In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† the main character, Mrs. Mallard, celebrates the death of her husband, yet Chopin uses several ironic situations and certain symbols to criticize the behavior of Mrs. Mallard during the time of her â€Å"loving† husband’s assumed death. In the â€Å"Story of an Hour† we observe many instances in which irony takes place.†¦show more content†¦While many women fulfilled their responsibilities, a large number of women responded to this attempt to define and limit their roles with their own literature and work in the feminist movement†(Ewell). So we are now thinking that Mrs. Mallard was unhappy in her marriage because behind closed doors she now expresses how she really feels, it says â€Å"she could see in the open square before her house the tops of the trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (p.496). At this point of the story begins to twist, something completely different than the reader expected to happen! So we now come to understand that Mrs. Mallard is actually feeling like new human being, she is being reborn. She is now seeing everything in a whole new way now that her husband has passed she is now free, free of her husband’s shadow. In the same sense we can easily interpret that winter, meaning her husband has died and spring meaning her freedom is yet to come and has now been reborn. In the story Mrs. Mallard is standing before an opened window, an open window may mean several things I interpret it as being vulnerable since she was in despair but it may also symbolize many opportunities for herShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis of Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour1150 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour is a perfect example of literature that glorifies the commonplace event: the story depicts a gigantic event in the life of its protagonist by using a minimalist economy of means. The opening sentence of The Story of an Hour carefully sets up the conclusion of the story. Chopin is working with such limited space here that it resembles more the crafting of a poem than a fictional narrative. We are told that Mrs Mallard was afflicted with heart trouble so greatRead MoreEssay on Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour537 Words   |  3 Pages In Kate Chopins short story quot;The Story of an Hour,quot; there is much hatred. The first hatred detected is in the way that Louise reacts to the news of the death of her husband, Mr. Mallard. Be fore Louises reaction is revealed, Chopin turns to how the widow feels by describing the world according to her outlook of it after the bad news. Louise is said to quot;not hear the story as many women have heard the same.quot; Rather, she accepts it and goes to her room to be alone. Now the personRead MoreSymbolism In Kate Chopins The Story Of An Hour1013 Words   |  5 PagesWhile most of Kate Chopin’s short stories were well received, â€Å"The Story of an Hour† was originally rejected by publishers until 1894 when Vogue decided to publish the short story. However after her death most of Chopin’s work was forgotten, that was until the 1950s when her work again was recognized as insightful and moving, setting into motion a Kate Chopin revival which was both successful and remarkable (Biography). â€Å"The Story of an Hour† focuses on the liberation and new found freedom of a newlyRead MoreKate Chopins The Story of an Hour Essay560 Words   |  3 Page s In Kate Chopin’s short story, â€Å"The Story of an Hour†, the author shows us the response of a young woman to her husband’s presumed death. Before the news, the widow, Mrs. Mallard, felt trapped in a situation she found to be inescapable. Her marriage made her feel as though her will wasn’t really her own, that she wasn’t really free. However, when the news of her husband’s death reaches her, she finally begins to feel that she has a chance to be free. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; During her mingledRead MoreCriticism In Kate Chopins The Story Of An Hour830 Words   |  4 Pagesintroduction to any other writer with this kind of writing style to verify my assertion of Kate Chopin’s work, nonetheless Chopin does a brilliant job of exhibiting her Creole background in her work coherently. Although many may argue that modern feminism has taken a new meaning compared to its’ early beginnings. Chopin exhibited a hint of feminism through characters like Clarisse and Mrs. Mallard. In The Story of An Hour, Chopin crafted Mrs. Mallards Character as woman who seem to yearn for freedom to theRead MoreKate CHopins Story of an Hour Essay1271 Words   |  6 Pages In Kate Chopins Story of an Hour the author portrays patriarchal oppression in the institution of marriage by telling the story of one fateful hour in the life of a married woman. Analyzing the work through feminist criticism, one can see the implications of masculine discourse. Mrs. Mallards medical diagnosis is an example of the male-dominated society in which she lives. They are able to tell her that she indeed has a heart condition, but are unable to treat her effectivelyRead MoreEssay on Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour655 Words   |  3 PagesKate Chopins The Story of an Hour In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin, the author depicts how someone can be trapped in an unproductive and unsatisfying reality because of other’s thoughtlessness, exploitation, and domination. When combined with the contemporary society’s belief, presumably the later half of the 19th century, a further understanding of Chopin’s thoughts and feelings can be realized. Mrs. Louise Mallard, the victim and messenger of this story, is the image of such aRead MoreEssay on Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour911 Words   |  4 Pages Women should be powerful, beautiful and intelligence. Nevertheless, women in the eighteenth century were portrayed as servants did not have any say in anything just like the story of an hour by Kate Chopin, where even in a good marriage you could not do the things you wanted to do. What if their husbands died what would come of them? How would they feel? And the irony of gaining freedom but losing everything? In the eighteenth century, Women were portrayed as powerless beneath the men becauseRead More Irony in Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour Essays1295 Words   |  6 PagesIrony in Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour A very dull and boring story can be made into a great story simply by adding in something that is unexpected to happen. When the unexpected is used in literature it is known as irony. An author uses irony to shock the reader by adding a twist to the story. The author of â€Å"The Story of an Hour† is Kate Chopin. Her use of irony in the story is incredibly done more than once. Irony is thinking or believing some event will happen but in return the unexpectedRead MoreThe Story of a Widow in Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour Essay840 Words   |  4 Pagespersistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature.† Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour† is the story of a woman’s reaction to the news of her husband’s passing. Mrs. Louise Mallard is a young woman most would conclude to be saddened by the passing of her husband. Yet it is in that very moment we find her true feelings. Kate Chopin was born Katherine O’Flaherty on February 8, 1850 in St. Louis Missouri. She was the only child born to her

Essay The Ghost Of Hamlet’s Father - 1607 Words

The Ghost Of Hamlet’s Father What would Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, be like without the character of the Ghost? The drama simply wouldn’t BE! The Ghost, though not a human character in most senses of the word, is crucial for the development of the play. This essay will analyze this interesting character. The ghost’s apparition has deep significance. It touches the very spiritual underpinnings of the Denmark state. Frank Kermode in â€Å"Hamlet† explores the spiritual dimension of this spectral visit: But meanwhile the ghost – â€Å"this thing† – has appeared. (Horatio as skeptic raises questions as to its status which could have been avoided.) There has been speculation as to its purpose, but one thing seems sure:†¦show more content†¦The hour comes, and the ghost walks. The awed Horatio tries to speak to it but it stalks away, leaving the three men to wonder why the buried king has come back to haunt the land (35). Horatio and Marcellus exit the ramparts of Elsinore intending to enlist the aid of Hamlet, who is dejected by the â€Å"o’erhasty marriage† of his mother to his uncle. There is a social gathering of the court, where they make contact with Hamlet and escort him to the ramparts. At one a.m. the Ghost reveals to the protagonist the extent of the evil within Elsinore, â€Å"the human truth† (Abrams 467). The Ghost says that King Hamlet I was murdered by Claudius, who had a relationship with Gertrude prior to the murder; the ghost requests revenge by Hamlet: â€Å"Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.† Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts,-- O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen: O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there! (1.5) The dilemma which the ghost’s appearance creates for the hero is almost insuperable. Gunnar Boklund’s â€Å"Judgment in Hamlet† introduces â€Å"modern research into Elizabethan demonology† as it relates to the Ghost and its message: â€Å"It was apparently generallyShow MoreRelated Shakespeares Hamlet - The Ghost Of Hamlet’s Father Essay2404 Words   |  10 PagesThe Ghost Of Hamlet’s Father      Ã‚   What would Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, be like without the character of the Ghost? The drama simple wouldn’t BE! The Ghost, though not a human character in most senses of the word, is crucial for the development of the play. This essay will analyze this interesting character.    Frank Kermode in â€Å"Hamlet† fits the Ghost into the local and national scene:    But meanwhile the ghost – â€Å"this thing† – has appeared. (Horatio as skeptic raises questionsRead MoreThere is No Ghost in Hamlet Essay753 Words   |  4 Pagesapplication of ghosts in his plays, Hamlet is no exception. Scholars argue that the ghost in Hamlet is only a figment of Hamlet’s imagination, but how does that explain others witnessing the apparition. Hamlet’s mental state is declining throughout the play, but what is the true cause? From an external view Hamlet appears insane, whether or not he is insane is left ambiguous. If he is insane, is the traumatic loss of his father causing Hamlet to see a ghost or is the ghost real indeed? The ghost firstRead More The Ghost of King Hamlet Essay1301 Words   |  6 PagesThe Ghost of King Hamlet      Ã‚   Many Shakespeare plays contain ghosts, perhaps most notably and most disturbingly in Macbeth and Hamlet. The ghost in Hamlet is the apparition of prince Hamlets father, the dead King Hamlet.   However, up until the time when the ghost first appears to Hamlet, interrupting his speech and thoughts, it appears Hamlet is unaware that his father was murdered.   As the ghost intones, I am thy fathers spirit, / Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, / And for theRead More Shakespeares Definition Of A Ghost Essay1172 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeares Definition of a Ghost nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The American Heritage Dictionary, published in 1973, defines a ghost as, quot;the spirit or shade of a dead person, supposed to haunt living persons or former habitats.quot; Unfortunately, this simple definition does not explain where a ghost comes from or why it haunts. When used in the context of Shakespeares Hamlet, this definition seems to suggest that the ghost who visits Hamlet truly is his dead father seeking revenge. To theRead MoreHidden Ghost By William Shakespeare1375 Words   |  6 PagesHidden Ghost In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, King Hamlet is killed by Claudius, Prince Hamlet’s uncle. The late king returns as what is suspected to be a ghost or spirit and gives Prince Hamlet orders to seek revenge on Claudius and murder him. This causes Hamlet to intensely consider whether honor or logic is more important. Although Shakespeare only directly refers to one ghost, there are many more ghosts behind the scenes. In the tragedy by Shakespeare, Hamlet as well as all the characters haveRead More Horatio: A True Friend of Hamlet Essay826 Words   |  4 Pageshim, and that was Horatio. The other key characters in the play were only out for their own good. However Horatio was looking out for Hamlet. Unfortunately, Horatio was the only one. Gertrude was Hamlet’s mother. She was a selfish and evil woman. She cheated on Hamlet’s father with Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle. She married Claudius a month after her husband’s death. Gertrude wanted Hamlet to stop his grieving. She told Hamlet, â€Å"thou know’st ‘tis common, all that lives must die, passing through natureRead More The Ghost in Kenneth Brannaghs Hamlet Essay1518 Words   |  7 PagesThe Ghost in Kenneth Brannaghs Hamlet William Shakespeares Hamlet is a drama which has been renound for its content and depiction of characters. Over the years, it has gone through many variations of interpretations and criticisms. One such criticism is the nature of the ghost who takes the form of Hamlets dead father. At first glance, it may be sufficient to accept the ghost as the spirit of Hamlets dead father who returns to the land of the living in order to have his son avenge his murderRead MoreThe Ghost Of Old Hamlet1466 Words   |  6 PagesThe ghost of Old Hamlet is an important part of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but the ghost does not appear to all of the characters. The audience first sees the ghost when it appears before Horatio and the watchmen, Bernardo and Marcellus, who are both minor characters who do not play a major role in the play. Hamlet also sees the ghost later, and the audience only hears the ghost speak in interactions between him and Hamlet. However, because the ghost’s words are not r eal, it also brings forth the questionRead MoreFeigning Madness Or Truly Insane?1173 Words   |  5 Pagesthe play occurs when a ghost begins showing up at the castle. At the beginning of the play two guards stand outside of the castle speaking of a ghost they had seen twice before â€Å"this dreaded sight twice seen of us† (1.1.25). Horatio, a scholar, stands with the men when the ghost comes by again and Marcellus, a guard, says to Horatio â€Å"Thou art a scholar; speak to it Horatio† (1.1.42). After failed attempts at speaking with the ghost, it leaves and Horatio contemplates whose ghost it could have been.Read MoreThe Transformation Of Prince Shakespeare s Hamlet 1466 Words   |  6 Pagesto go through than it is for others. In Hamlet’s case, the events that slowly change him prove to be quite unbearable. It is people that mean the most to him that lead him to change, not because he wants to, but because he has to. They cause Hamlet to lose his mind, dr ive him insane, and in the end, it was a loss for everyone that was involved. From the beginning of the play, Hamlet is labelled as a heavy hearted and unhappy man. This is seen as â€Å"Hamlet’s Transformation† as the King called it.

The Lung free essay sample

The jet-black lung rolled cold and lifeless across the exam table. It had belonged to an avid smoker, and now it was slithering toward an even less noble fate. This week-long summer cadaver lab at a major medical school was my attempt to find out whether a career with scalpels and syringes might be for me. We poked around intestines, squinted at a cross-Â ­section of a brain; we realized that one of the cadavers was still wearing fingernail polish. Even so, the experience seemed more procedural than personal. I was just doing my job, not feeling the invasiveness of our work. The professor called one last rotation, and I shuffled over to examine a chest cavity. The professor reached inside for a diseased mass. Her gloves were slippery. She fumbled with the lung for a few seconds, and we watched her struggle, frozen. Then, it happened. The lung headed straight for the linoleum floor. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lung or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Gravity had already written the ending. Out of nowhere came the hands of one of my lab mates. He caught the lung inches from the ground. The high school boy looked queasy. The group burst out in laughter. How could we not? He had made a game-winning catch, one that would go down in medical history. And then my mortality hit. Part of me felt ashamed that I had acted so light-hearted about the most serious of matters. Another part of me was sad; Id just lost some armor by walking into that lab. Death was no longer obscure, but so close I could grasp it with my latex gloves. After that summer lab, I volunteered at a hospital that treats the poorest patients. I worked on the pediatric floor, often taking care of 18-month-olds left alone overnight because their parents had to work or had other children at home. I spent time with a teenager immobilized for weeks with a leg infection, desperate for conversation. I had the chance to make small differences. One night, a college girl was admitted who had fallen while trying to hop a train. She needed both legs amputated. Her mom asked me for a blanket for her daughter, so I went to the warming closet to find just the right quilt. Another day, I found a pair of winter boots in the donation closet to give to a six-year-old who had been walking the snowy streets in sandals. No, I am not the surgeon amputating the legs, or the nurse injecting the little girl with insulin. But I offer something, make a connection, however small. Maybe those bigger medical contributions will come later, but for now what I want is to make those small bits that add up to something. Life can be as awful as losing your legs under a train wheel, death as awkward as giving your body to science only to have it fall apart in front of giggling teenagers. The boy who made that catch somehow knew how uncomfortable we would feel if that lung hit the floor. And we breathed a sigh of relief that hed instinctively done the right thing. Sometimes for the living or the dead, the least we can do is still enough. Even making a diving catch. F