Prison of Marriage (Kate Chopin)

Kate Chopin’s short story, “The Story of an Hour,” effectively illustrates how women in the 19th century felt trapped within the confines of traditional marriage. The story’s protagonist is Louise Mallard, a young, married woman suffering from “heart trouble.” Chopin begins with a bang, informing the reader of the tragic demise of Mrs. Mallard’s husband, Brently. Immediately after hearing the shocking news, Mrs. Mallard begins to cry and escapes to her room. …

…had the liberty to be her own woman in the first place. Perhaps that was Chopin’s intent—to enlighten the reader with her viewpoint on the tragedy of being confined in a marriage with little hope of escape. If so, Chopin did the job effectively by giving us a glimpse into the life of a young woman living in the 19th century, a woman trapped in the prison of marriage with no way out.