How the Cultural and Historical Context of the Story Informs or Deepens the Overall Meaning of the Story

[Name of the supervisor]

Introduction3

Discussion Analysis3

Conclusion7

Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………………….....8

Annotated Bibliography9

Rough Draft 10

How the Cultural and Historical Context of the Story Informs or Deepens the Overall Meaning of the Story

Introduction

The historical and cultural context influences the structure and style of the text and also the setting and themes of the books. The Story of an Hour was penned down by Kate Chopin in the year of 1894, which was the time of traditional values that women were subordinate to men in status, opportunities and rights. Without knowing about the cultural and historical context of this period, we cannot do a deep analysis of the story for complete justification. However, Kate wrote this story in the time when women was living in male dominant society and was not having equal rights. The story is about the death news of Mrs. Mallard's husband which gives hope to the wife for her freed life, but eventually her husband comes back alive and Mrs. Mallard got heart attack. When Louise Mallard hears about the death of her husband, she said under her breath “free, free, free” (Chopin, 1894). In this statement, Kate tries to portray the feelings of few women who secretly hold these feelings on their husband's death, particularly in 1800s. The paper is designed to sketch the story from its cultural and historical point of view that eventually shows the reason of its portrayal.

Discussion Analysis

The married women of 19th century usually did not receive their earned wages, right to make wills and become “owned” asset by their husbands. The silent whisper of Mrs. Mallard “free, free, free” demonstrates her inner wish to get freed out from prisoner's life and live like an independent woman by owning the title of widow. The lines “The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body” might suggest the sexual feelings that women did not have the satisfaction of pure love but simply does for an obligation. However, it is also mentioned that “she had loved him-sometimes, Often she had not” which probably guides that there relationship was not on constant state, but it varies on circumstances and so there behaviors towards each other. Kate used their surrounding, personalities, and standpoints for shaping her text to define the cultural influence of that time by her characters behavior (www.katechopin.org). She might want to express her opinion or maybe try to bring a change in those concepts. “The Story of an Hour” provides a glance to the reader for understanding the situation of women in two centuries and also for inspiring women to fight back against their husbands if they feel obligated in their marriage (Barbara, p.39). For creating the real world in her depiction, Kate sketches her own experiences in the southern United States while 19th ...