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"The Story of an Hour," by Kate Chopin: Setting’s Analysis and Significance
The setting that Kate Chopin incorporates in her article, "The Story of an Hour," plays a
significant role in emphasizing essential themes, including but not limited to liberation and
confinement. "The Story of an Hour" takes place around the late 19th century. By then, women
were facing gender-based challenges. Due to socially constructed gender norms and
expectations, most women were subjected to various forms of oppression and discrimination by
then. They enjoyed limited rights compared to the male gender, which took dominance. By
offering a greater description of the bedroom environment, the author helps bring out the
protagonist's emotional encounters (Chopin, n.p). The scenes and bedroom outlook are featured
to emphasize the outside world's juxtaposition. The protagonist used in the article is identified as
Louise Mallard. This paper will therefore examine the setting of the article and its relevance.
Furthermore, it will explore some of the literal elements deployed in the article in an effort to
present some of the key themes around women's roles in the late 1800s.
As readers interact with the bedroom and its surroundings, the author vividly displays the
setting, bringing out an emotional experience and physical confinement that the protagonist is
prone to. By creating vivid descriptions, Chopin explains a room having "comfortable, roomy
chairs." The author further adds that "a window that opened out onto a balcony" (Chopin, n.p).
With such vivid descriptions, the readers are given an opportunity to paint a clear picture of the
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protagonist's setting and environment. Based on these descriptions, we can note some of the
women's roles and expectations that the traditional society subjected women to. This was highly
contributed by social constructionism. Describing the protagonist's setting as "comfortable,
roomy" furniture primarily symbolizes an outer comfort that targets to suppress minorities and
limits the attainment of their aspirations and desires. The presence of the window and
descriptions around it depicts the outer world that makes women feel unliberated and oppressed.
In this case, the outer world presented by the window is claimed to have imposed women to
social injustice and discrimination.
Besides, it is quite notable from the vivid description of the bedroom setting that the
traditional gender roles in the late 1800s are presented. For instance, Louises' bed is
demonstrated to be "comfortable and roomy." This confines the protagonist and the entire female
gender to gender role discrimination. The organization of the bed and the environment around
the bed could mean that women's main role was taking care of the house, among other wife-
oriented roles. The room depicts a prison where women's abilities and freedom are limited and
centralized. This is a suffocating environment that Chopin tries to symbolize metaphorically.
After getting the news about the death of her husband, Louise turns back to her room in pursuit
of solace in the same environment that she seems confined to (Chopin, n.p).
Chopin further takes readers to the scenes of the outside world as Louise glazes outside
through the window. This scene plays a vital role because the readers can compare and create
relationships between the outside world and the environment the protagonist is confined to.
Beyond the room, according to Chopin, is a vibrant world. This outside world is described as
"patches of blue sky" and "trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life" (Chopin, n.p).
Considering this kind of description used by the author, we can note the presence of freedom,
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endless possibilities, and chances for renewable dependent on the outside world inclined to social
constructs. Compared to the outside world, the bedroom setting depicts the pursuit of freedom
and marriage-related struggles.
It can be noted that the setting of the article is primarily used to highlight key themes
around the struggles and women's role in the late 1800s. It is clear that, during the era, women
were viewed as caretakers. Their roles were confined to home settings—the room in which the
protagonist lives are described to be well organized with roomy and comfortable furniture. On
the other hand, the yearnings and aspirations are presented by the outside world beyond the
interior confinement. The setting is significant because it adds to the story's intensity and depth.
In conclusion, "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin provides significant themes and
issues around women's oppression and yearning for freedom. This is well emphasized throughout
the author's settings around the protagonist, Louise Millard. Her bedroom and the outside world
are vividly described by the author in a manner that reinforces gender roles that are constructed
socially. Readers get to understand the emotional experiences of Louise as a caretaker confined
in one place as a woman. She represents the millions of women during the late 1800s whose
roles were confined to home settings (Chopin, n.p). Significantly, through the use of setting,
Chopin explores human aspiration and desire for self-identity and liberty. Readers are given a
chance to reflect on the struggles of women in a society of inequality and injustice. Women have
limited access to potential opportunities that would help shape and improve their lives. Literary
elements, including metaphors and symbols, have been utilized in the article’s settings to
emphasize the role of women in society during the late 1800s century. It is clear that Chopin
aimed to address actual issues that were impacting women and their liberty. This was primarily
centered on women’s societal roles.
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Works Cited
Chopin, Kate.
The story of an hour
. Jimcin Recordings, 1981.