Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is our September 2023 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on September 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

This is absolutely brilliant and just over 1,000 words. It's available here:

I recently read The Awakening which I liked very much, then I read this story out of curiosity, I liked it even better.

This story is spectacular in a jaw-dropping way. I loved it. Chopin has managed to convey the lifetime of a woman in a few short pages complete with a couple of twists and turns! I'm in awe.

I didn't care for her The Awakening, which I believe we read in this group awhile back. I know I was the minority at the time and now I feel like I should give it another try.

I read this short story about a month ago. It is currently being taught in my school system's High School literature classes. I gave it four stars for its writing quality. Perhaps it had been spoiled for me by hearing teachers discuss how to teach it before I had read it. I didn't find it shocking. I think folks in marriages whether happy or not, wonder what they would do once alone.

For me it was shocking because of the dramatic speed of the events and the apparent change of heart. I agree that anyone would wonder what they would do once alone.

I also liked this better than The Awakening (which I did like quite a bit). This story is just so utterly succinct, and the impact so sudden.

I especially love the very last line. Chopin’s heroines seem destined to be fundamentally misunderstood—their plight slots so neatly into the contemporary narrative of feminine frailty, and yet that narrative couldn’t be more off the mark.

We do not know the given or familiar name of Mrs Mallard. We know her sister's name "Louise" which indicates that she is unmarried and unfamiliar with the laws and customs of coverture, unable to even recognize the cry of relief of Mrs Mallard.

Since mid 19th century, wealthy women of the middle and upper classes had been fighting a war of attrition against coverture. They started with writing informal wills left to the care of loving friends and family members. In these small wills women disposed of their personal items considered of little or no value by the men in their families--often things handmade or things of beauty, things that came with shared memories.

Coveture laws were challenged in the early 20th century.

The Second Wave of the Women's Movement, those Women Libbers, was largely about building ones own economic wealth--own jobs, own bank accounts, own credit cards. I would roughly date their success to the time that women's names stopped being printed in newspapers in this form: Mrs. Richardson (née Lopez).

I read this story about 3-1/2 years ago and I loved it. It is so short, but it contains so much to think about and for some readers to directly relate to. I agree that married people wonder at some point what being alone would be like, but this woman is contemplating being free which has been beyond her wildest dreams since she is a young wife. I don't think being alone and being free are quite the same in this context. She feels caged in and now envisions living based on her decisions. We all compromise in marriage, but her marriage sounds as if she is the only one who is forced to give in by bending to her husband's will. She has not allowed thoughts of freedom to creep in before because they weren't possible in reality.

Cynda wrote: "We do not know the given or familiar name of Mrs Mallard. We know her sister's name "Louise" which indicates that she is unmarried and unfamiliar with the laws and customs of coverture, unable to e..."

Cynda, it's actually Mrs. Mallard whose name is Louise and the sister is Josephine which is seen in the paragraph where the sister is kneeling at the door asking to be admitted. I'm not sure if Josephine is married or not since it doesn't seem unusual to use her first name as an immediate relative.

Got it

Overall, I found this to be sort of a strange story. A lot happens in just a few pages. I think perhaps her reaction, focusing on the sense of freedom she now feels, may have been quite revolutionary and feminist at the time, though it's nothing new now. I think maybe the ending with the heart attack is what made it feel weird to me -- it seemed like one twist too many, and like it undermined the credibility and message of the rest. Just my thoughts.

Cynda wrote: "Since mid 19th century, wealthy women of the middle and upper classes had been fighting a war of attrition against coverture. They started with writing informal wills left to the care of loving fri..."

I recently (3rd Grade if you can believe it) had to teach a story about women's suffrage. The problem with discussions about women's rights is that the laws were state laws (or Canadian vs US). Women had various legal situations.

Oh and back to this story, we have discussed before how school assignments for teenagers are often drudgery. I cannot imagine being a teenager reading this, who has not personally experienced marriage. How can they possibly relate? They just say something like, "Oh (that person) died."

For a while when I was teaching 8th Grade (13 and 14 year olds) Literature the students thought it was funny to say every poem was about death. I finally said, "None of the poems are about death. Now stop that."

Lynn that's good stuff for thought.

We tend to think of married women no younger than late 20s, often early 30s. But here in our story of the late 19th century, the married women were often teenagers, women not much older than your students. If death is funny, then death of someone controlling however kind must have been laugh out loud funny.

Laurie wrote: "I read this story about 3-1/2 years ago and I loved it. It is so short, but it contains so much to think about and for some readers to directly relate to. I agree that married people wonder at some..."

Well said, Laurie. I agree completely. Also, the initial grief is actually brought on by wondering what she will do, but we the readers don't know that, we think that she has lost the love of her life since we are lead to believe that her grief is stronger than most in similar situations.

Then in the middle it's actually comedic as we learn that she's not sad about loss of companionship. This is quickly followed by the reader's grief of what this woman had to live through immediately followed with hope and joy over the possibilities ahead for her.

With the ending we are left to grieve for this poor woman who we only knew for mere minutes through the description of 1 hour of her life. I thought it was absolutely brilliant.

Sue wrote: "Laurie wrote: "I read this story about 3-1/2 years ago and I loved it. It is so short, but it contains so much to think about and for some readers to directly relate to. I agree that married people..."

I also thought the surprise the husband showed as he returned was good. Why was everyone so upset? Then, bam his wife passes away.

I read this in school and LOVED it. I have always had a love/hate relationship with the idea of marriage. The woman wears an engagement ring to show the world she is taken, he doesn’t so can go catting about if he chooses. The bride’s father “gives her away� to the groom, as if she is a piece of property. In the olden days (not so long ago mind you, it wasn’t until about the 1970s or so that women were allowed credit cards under their own name and responsibility), she had no property other than her dowery and that became the property of the family she married into. Before women’s lib in the West, she could maybe be a teacher, nurse, secretary or a wife and mother. So as a fiercely independent female growing up in America, the idea of the institution of marriage was not all pretty white dresses and sunshine and rainbows. There is a dark history behind it all. When I read this story, it brought home to me how some women felt trapped and how liberating being a widow could be to someone like that. This is all from my American perspective, so grain of salt here. But this story hit me HARD as a teenager reading it.

Not saying I’m against marriage, just as a teenager I saw how it could be problematic. I’m for it, as long as both parties consent willingly. And again, purely American perspective. I am not trying to discount any other view or cultural understanding of marriage, just admitting my ignorance of it and hoping this discussion will help me to learn something new.

Jen wrote: "I read this in school and LOVED it. I have always had a love/hate relationship with the idea of marriage. The woman wears an engagement ring to show the world she is taken, he doesn’t so can go cat..."

Let me give you a different perspective. I found unwanted attention from men oppressive. I also found the only way to get them to leave me alone was to wear a ring. For me wearing my engagement ring was an incredible joy, and I suddenly found what it was like to be able to go about my business unbothered by folks. We could just have regular conversations now, no potential dating situations to complicate things.

Hi Lynn, I’m glad that the ring helped you and that you are happy. My only quibble with rings is that the man doesn’t get an engagement ring too. Should I ever be blessed with being engaged and married, I want my soon-to-be spouse to have one too. Not out of jealousy or spite, but to shout to the world that this incredible, amazing man is mine and I his. (Incurable romantic over here, lol.) But this story made me think as a teenager that not everyone at every time felt that way. I look forward to hearing different perspectives of this story, thanks for sharing Lynn!

Is this different in the US than in other countries? Here in Austria (like in most European countries, I think) both man and woman wear a ring once they´re married. My husband and I were never "engaged", so I don´t know about that.

Michaela wrote: "Is this different in the US than in other countries? Here in Austria (like in most European countries, I think) both man and woman wear a ring once they´re married. My husband and I were never "eng..."

Usually once married both man and woman wear a ring. Engagement rings are for the period of betrothal before the actual ceremony. Only a woman wears a ring then. But those are the older rules and people don't always follow them.

It was WWII era brides that started requiring their husbands to wear wedding rings. All brides-to-be would have to do have their men wear engagement rings is to require that they do--en masse--like the WWII era brides required double wedding rings.

Whatever the WWII women intended, it was a way of fighting back against coverture.

I loved this one! It was so interesting that the wife was feeling so free and light, with new visions of her future. And then the husband shows up! Wait -- what?! And, of course, when she dies everyone thinks it is from the sudden "happy" surprise that her "beloved" is still alive. And I like that only "we" readers actually know what she was really thinking :)

Terris wrote: "I loved this one! It was so interesting that the wife was feeling so free and light, with new visions of her future. And then the husband shows up! Wait -- what?! And, of course, when she dies ever..."

Same here, Terris! I love the way it shows how individual our lives are and that we can never completely know what someone else is going through.

Sue wrote: "Terris wrote: "I loved this one! It was so interesting that the wife was feeling so free and light, with new visions of her future. And then the husband shows up! Wait -- what?! And, of course, whe..."

I completely agree! I always think "everyone has a story." And you never can tell by their demeanor -- whether they act happy or sad, etc. -- what is really going on in their lives!

I love this short story. So brief and yet there is so much going on. I think I've read this story at least 20 times over the years (it was in our 11th grade literature book) and I can often find a new angle or lense to read it quite a bit of time. It really packs a punch. Like some of you, I also liked this story quite a bit more than The Awakening.

I read "The Story of an Hour" years ago (so no surprise), but I was happy to read it again.

I appreciate Kate Chopin's playing with perceptions and expectations repeatedly. She packs a lot into quite a short story. These days, this would qualify as "flash fiction."

Since it seemed like such a likely subject, I checked and found that at least one student film has been made. I prefer the full story, but they did a nice job:

I love this story, and Kate Chopin, the way she shows the complexity behind women's lives, particularly at that time when norms had to be followed regardless of personal desires. For those who liked this one, I recommend another short-short of hers, The Storm.

Appreciate the film link, JenniferAustin. Haunting!

Kathleen wrote: "I love this story, and Kate Chopin, the way she shows the complexity behind women's lives, particularly at that time when norms had to be followed regardless of personal desires. For those who like..."

Kathleen! Thanks so much for the recommendation of The Storm! I just read it and loved it -- especially that last line! I can see the similarities to The Story of an Hour and can definitely tell that they were both written by the same author. Thanks again :)

Franky wrote: "I love this short story. So brief and yet there is so much going on. I think I've read this story at least 20 times over the years (it was in our 11th grade literature book) and I can often find a ..."

That's great that you have read it 20 times and can still find something new, Franky.

Terris wrote: "Kathleen! Thanks so much for the recommendation of The Storm! I just read it and loved it -- especially that last line! I can see the similarities to The Story of an Hour and can definitely tell that they were both written by the same author. Thanks again :)."

Yay! So glad you enjoyed it, Terris!

I found this short story so prdictable - definitely not my cup of tea -it's probably because I prefer a story with more pages! However, I do like some of Kate Chopins work particularly "A Pair of Silk Stockings" and "The Awakening" I

Am I the only one to whom this story made Saki's stories immediately come to mind?

You guys have done a great job discussing this story. Just a couple points I would like to add.

It's astonishing when you think about it how much Chopin was able to accomplish with so few words. She rendered the characters enough for us as readers to invest our emotions with the heroine, she sketched enough of the setting as we needed (not much, considering it all takes place in one house) and she gave us as much, thematically, as we need to stay busy talking about it, even now that we are well over 100 years after the piece was originally written.

Also, although certainly marriage was no picnic for women in the era in which this story was written, as a man I can identify with the protagonist's feelings from my own experiences being married in the 21st Century. What does that say about marriage in general? What does it say about interactions between any two parties in a social relationship, committed or otherwise? Do the same themes apply outside of marriage or social relationships - for example in the workplace?

Like I said, it's a lot to think about and discuss.

Wobbley wrote: "Overall, I found this to be sort of a strange story. A lot happens in just a few pages. I think perhaps her reaction, focusing on the sense of freedom she now feels, may have been quite revolutiona..."

I am in agreement with Wobbley on this. That late twist spoils and dates the story for me a bit, but the first couple of pages are excellent.

Lynn wrote: "Sue wrote: "Laurie wrote: "I read this story about 3-1/2 years ago and I loved it. It is so short, but it contains so much to think about and for some readers to directly relate to. I agree that ma..."

I missed this post before, Lynn. Great point about the husband! He was going through something similar. That just blew by me.

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "You guys have done a great job discussing this story. Just a couple points I would like to add.

It's astonishing when you think about it how much Chopin was able to accomplish with so few words. S..."

So thinking about other non-marital situations:

I speak from the vantage point of an adult child of a parent who had a long seven year battle with cancer. When Mom passed away there was a mixture of relief and grief in all of us. Relief for her mostly, but also for us. Grief of course was there as well. You can love someone and still feel that small joy that finally the pain for her is over.

I also think divorces carry that mixture of relief and grief. I think that the protagonist in our story wanted a release and may have even felt that small relief at her own death. Now that is pure speculation not backed up by the text.

I rarely read short stories so this made a pleasing change for me. I've come across Chopin's work before in 'The Awakening'. The sense of grief is portrayed beautifully and even deeper when read for a second time and knowing where the story was heading. So much conveyed in such a short piece was the skill here. I might even reread 'The Awakening' based on this piece.

Lynn wrote: "RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "You guys have done a great job discussing this story. Just a couple points I would like to add.

It's astonishing when you think about it how much Chopin was able to a..."

Yes, that is interesting speculation. It certainly seemed, though, that she wanted out one way or the other -- and the decision was made for her. And to your remark, possibly to her "relief."

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "You guys have done a great job discussing this story. Just a couple points I would like to add.

It's astonishing when you think about it how much Chopin was able to accomplish with so few words. S..."

I agree with you, RJ - Slayer of Trolls.

Terris wrote: "I loved this one! It was so interesting that the wife was feeling so free and light, with new visions of her future. And then the husband shows up! Wait -- what?! And, of course, when she dies ever..."

Like any other great work of literature, it is the worthwhile reread that illuminates the truth of the story.

She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms. When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.

My first work by Chopin. A tightly written snapshot which makes its point clearly. I like "she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window".

JenniferAustin wrote: "Since it seemed like such a likely subject, I checked and found that at least one student film has been made. I prefer the full story, but they did a nice job."

Thank you for sharing this! The film was less than seven minutes long, but the director really did a great job packing the right mood into that space of time. Similar to Chopin taking us along on this journey in under 1000 words!