"The Story of an Hour"

I decided to go back and blog about "The Story of an Hour" because there were a lot of elements Chopin included in this short story that I enjoyed. The manner in which Chopin ended the story was fantastic; I love reading a story with an unexpected twist! I had read this story in another literature class, so sadly, the ending was no longer a surprise. This, however, did offer new insights. I think that, first and foremost, it made the story much sadder. Knowing that everything she was dreaming of would never be attained made me pity her. She was not able to enjoy the life she was given because of the societal rules that trapped her.  The reread also allowed me to focus on details I had not previously noticed. The fact that Mrs. Mallard is noticing the beauty in life through a window could suggest that she wouldn't be able to reach it. She would merely view the freedom and imagine the hope of a new life. The main character is also mainly referred to as Mrs. Mallard and not by her first name. She is still bound by her husband and identified as such.
Another characteristic of the story I admired was Chopin's ability to write so much in so little. This story is barely two pages, yet the impact of every word is evident. Because of its length, everything she includes -all the details about the market, the armchair, the sky- have a purpose. I think that too often writers (Hawthorne!!!) add mass amounts of unnecessary details to their stories, clouding the important ones.