The Story of an Hour Group

Question:

hallhall04
hallhall04
Student
College - Sophomore

How do I write an abstract about how Mrs. Mallard went from feeling abused to freedom within an hour.

This is an abstract I have to write for a research paper, and I'm having the worst time on what I would like to argue. My question is just an idea. If anyone could help, it would be greatly appreciated.

Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour"

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Posted by hallhall04 on Wednesday October 28, 2009 at 11:28 PM and tagged with abstract, character-analysis, mrs.mallard, the story of an hour.

Answers:

  1. mwestwood
    mwestwood Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    Since Kate Chopin was very concerned about the plight of Victorian women who were repressed by their husbands and the society of which they were in control, you may wish to argue that Mrs. Mallard is yet a victim of the repressive society when she has the heart attack as she realizes that her husband is, in fact, alive and she has not been released from the prison of her marriage, after all.

    That is, because of her repressive life with her husband, Mrs. Mallard suffers from a heart condition directly related to the stress of having no freedom of action and of thought.  When she learns of Mr. Mallard's supposed demise, her elation is so exuberant and magnified because of her sense of freedom at last.  Then, when she sees her living husband, the crushing defeat to her newborn sense of freedom kills her.  Indirectly, therefore, Mr. Mallard and the repressive society of the Victorian Age are responsible for Mrs. Mallard's death.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/story-hour/characters

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    Posted by mwestwood on Thursday October 29, 2009 at 12:49 PM