English Professor Explains Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” Analysis with Subtitles #ICSE 💍

In this lecture, Dr. Kosters discusses “The Story of an Hour” from a feminist lens by explaining the conditions of marriage in 19th-century America to help readers understand Louise Mallard's shocking reaction to her husband's death. Other points of discussion include the meaning of names, the title of the story, and dramatic irony. #analysis #subtitles #literaryanalysis #literature #shortstory #katechopin #thestoryofanhour #dramaticirony #americanliterature #19thcenturyliterature #feminism #professor #english #marriage #freedom #icse #icseexam #studyguide #iscexam #isc #iscexam #class11 #class12 #examhelp #historicalcontext #chopin #women #freedom

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[janefoster]

I was required to write a 1000-word article on this, thank you so much for providing insight into the life of a married woman in the 19th century, I believe it makes the reader empathize with the protagonist much better.

[kimberlyrodriguez]

This story is probably one of my favorite stories that was provided in the class. Coming from someone who has experienced a very toxic relationship, I related so much to Mrs. Mallard and how she felt trapped with no way out. But once she gets the news that her husband is dead, she is finally able to get a small taste of freedom until unfortunately she doesn't. I do wonder though, what her life would have been if he actually did end up dying.

[bellanazzaro]

Thank you for explaining this story in further depth! I’m taking English online for school and I don’t really have a professor to listen to about stories like this and go into detail ! Definitely helps me understand this topic !! Thank youuuu

[frolik]

When it comes to the list of short stories that we read in class, I find "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin to be my favorite one. In addition, I also did my reader-response essay on this short story, and it is an assignment I hope to never forget since I had an intense, intellectual fun time exploring this short story in so many ways I felt were strongly evident throughout the story. I learned so much by reading Chopin's story as well as watching your class lecture professor because my mind kept elevating with how I was understanding the story. Thank you again! While reading and researching this short story, it was noted that women during Chopin's time did not have existential freedom to decide their own essence, so when Chopin's writes of Louise in the story that "There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself", we are seeing the existential elation and newfound optimism that a woman (Louise) is experiencing for no longer being externally bounded to her husband in the patriarchal society she is living in. She is no longer a slave, a procreated machine. She is now free. While the passage may reveal a tasted of literary sweetness for the reader to revel in and taste for Louise, the ending of Chopin's short story to me reveals a much deeper, hidden theme which is the revealing of her pessimism in the fact that women may never be free at all from the masculine control that the husbands have over their wives. This may reveal Kate Chopin herself to be a pessimistic-feminist existentialist in the sense that while her main character (Louise) may be able to apply Jean-Paul Sartre's existential saying of "existence precedes essence" for only one hour in the story, at the end of the day it is only false hopes and naive optimism since women, according to the ending of the story may never be truly free at all. Furthermore, I truly do wonder how Louise's life could have been if her husband actually died and never returned home. This was one of those stories that made me cheer for the main character because I was absolutely emotionally moved and in awe by the way Louise started to optimistically plan out her life the moment her husband supposedly died. I felt as if I was there personally with Louise celebrating her husband's absence. I felt a plethora of emotions, feelings, and thoughts the whole story, and although Louise's newfound excitement and optimism all maybe happened for an hour, it was still emotionally moving for me to experience alongside Louise personally. Chopin's short story and "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka hold similar feelings of personal, passionate, profound, heartfelt feelings. Thank you once again Professor Kosters!

[isissoriano]

Thank you for a great analysis of "The Story of an hour ". I would hate to live in a century where I don't have power over myself. It's crazy to think that women had no right in the past. Good thing women back in the day didn't stop fighting for their rights.

[A-Dash]

“The Story of an Hour" much like "The Necklace" is another story with a tragic ending that really makes me sad. The sheer devasation caused by finding out the supposed freedom she had was actually a fluke causing her to die of a heart attack is really the definition of tragic. While her excitement at her husband dying can be considered a bit messed up it is also understandble given that she was basically property when she was married to him. I do love how stories like these can make me very sympathetic towards characters like Mrs. Mallard who is happy over her husband dying and Mary who killed her husband simply because of how hard of a life they had under the rule of extremes patriarchy. Very good writting on the part of the authors.

[LaVerdaSetsYouFree]

I really love your analyzes of The short story❤️ Also I wish that you would have explained things like setting, plot, point of view, theme/messages while going through it for education. I’m new in English so I’d love that. Thank you for this 🙏🏽❤️

[XxGibleRSxX]

I find that "The Story of an Hour" was an interesting read as it is relatable to those of us who have constant inner monologues amongst ourselves. Although none of us are committing terrible acts or wishing ill on those around us to be disappeared for good, we all have battles within ourselves and difficulty coming to terms with then. Which is exactly what Kate Chopin is portraying to the readers through Louise.

[ashleygharbi]

In the lecture video, it depicts the situation of how marriage was in the 19th century. I believe this is a major theme of the story as it shows how Mrs. Mallard had no freedom due to her marriage. I can't imagine how hard it would be to be your husbands legal servant and have nothing that truly belongs to you. This can be the reason as to why Mrs. Mallard was relieved when her husband passed, she felt free. Also before watching the lecture video, I did not catch that Mrs. Mallard goes to Louise once she is free. This can show her new discovery of herself and even a break for the societal rules on marriage. I personally have not idenifted with Louise Mallard, but I do know many people who have. It is a difficult and hurtful feeling when one feels trapped in a relationship or sitaution.

[kaylaL]

First of all, great lecture! You describe things in such a clear and concise way; it really helps me to understand the story better than when I read it on my own. Thank you! Also, I thought this story was really sad. I think the biggest thing that heightened the sympathy I had towards Mrs. Mallard was the moment of realization she had when she recognized she was free. It’s like that feeling when you try a new food and realize you’ve been missing out. For her, she finally found that freedom that she didn’t know was missing from life, and as soon as she figured that out, it got taken away. I wish there was an alternate version of the story where Mrs. Mallard gets to have that freedom she craves. It would be interesting to see how she would have spent that time and the things she would have accomplished.

[Kiskitaa]

I feel for Mrs. Mallard. It can be easy to lose oneself in marriage especially in those times when your legal rights were taken. I believe Mrs. Mallard's heart attack in the end still gave her what she'd been dreaming of, freedom. To die was to become free in the most dramatic sense. And I think this shows the severity of a woman's desire to be treated as equal to men back then. I assume being outspoken and honest on this topic was looked down upon so one had to sit back and listen. Death, of any spouse was freedom.

[elenafarhanifar]

The story of an hour was definitely my favorite out of all the stories we read during this semester. I can relate to how she felt trapped in her own home and marriage and how the death of her husband gives her life. Perhaps she never felt alive when he was around and having celebrated her new found freedom, she can't bear the thought of having that freedom get taken away again. This story makes me imagine her being neighbors with Mary from the story "lamb to the slaughter", they are very similar in the marriages they were trapped in. Mary found a way out but she didn't.

[Carlieduvs]

I have a quiz on this tomorrow so thank you🙏🏼 very helpful

[adrianmontes]

This story was a bit of a trip, because it talks about marriage, which is a major achievement and stepping stone in a relationship. Nowadays Marriage seems to be much more free than it was back then, but it also depends on the individual. Being financially and legally bound to someone who is a horrible person can be horrible. It reminds me of Lamb of the Slaughter, because it shows a woman with an exact opposite response to her husband “leaving”. In this story she felt trapped in a marriage, and it really did seem horrible to be married in that time, and to hear it was only a day dream, only makes it such a sad experience.

[Elk]

@Elk1112
0 seconds ago
Thank you for explaining it through a feminist lens. When I first read the story, I understood she was happy but I didn’t understand exactly why, given her husband had been believed dead. After listening to the lecture the first time, I realized that the feminist lens helped it to make more sense. His death was the only way she could be free from the shackles that society placed on women during the era and live how she wanted to. Louise, upon hearing he was proclaimed dead, must have broken the shackles in that moment and when he came back, still alive, the shackles must have returned, heavier than ever. Of course, I say that metaphorically. In simpler terms, she couldn’t handle realizing she was still trapped in this society, and died because of it.

[VallerieFlores]

Great lecture! Your lectures always help me better understand the text. I used to think that as a reader, all we needed to do was just read a story, but you've opened my eyes to a whole new world of literature that I never knew existed. The Story of an Hour is actually quite a relatable story. I think a lot of people can relate to Mrs. Mallard in that they feel trapped with a certain person or even in a certain situation. The irony in the story is what captured my attention, in which her husband was never really gone yet she felt the relief as though he would've been.

[mug]

When I read this one, I almost wanted to interpret it as a sort of "what If?" story, showing a different route from what had happened in lamb to the slaughter. The two carry similar themes and each deals with the man fully dictating the woman's life choice's and decisions. The only difference is, Louise is incredibly happy here because her husband died early one whereas Mary from lamb to the daughter is more damaged as that's all she had ever known.

[conjurors-prelude]

I really appreciate your analysis through a feminist lens. I read this story in the 90s when I was in high school but I don’t think I grasped the full meaning back then. Reading it now, I can empathize with the protagonist. 😊I’m happily married now, but there were many times in the past when I felt trapped like she did. When I read the part about how she sobbed with wild abandon when her sister broke the news to her - rather than sit quietly in utter shock like others would have - I could see that in that very moment she wasn’t releasing sorrow over Mr Mallard. What she was doing was letting out years (possibly) of pent up emotions. Like a caged bird, she couldn’t fly, couldn’t sing. Now she was suddenly free. How else could one respond except by sobbing? Again, thank you for the excellent analysis.

[rosiefranco]

The Story of an Hour was one of my favorite reads this semester. I find it sad to learn about situations during marriage in the 19th century. I can see how Mrs. Mallard felt trapped in her marriage considering Mr. Mallard might have been a loving man, it still could have been a toxic relationship. And during that time it was hard to get away, so Mr. Mallards death would have been easy for her to see her freedom. Its like a breath of fresh air. However, was Mrs. Mallards heart condition a plot device or did it have a different symbolic meaning. Since she couldn't be free in human form, does it mean her death sets her free from her marriage?

[danyaslife]

This lecture was very eye opening to realize how far along we have come as a society from specific norms imposed in the past. Although some countries still see marriage in this light, others have developed and modernized. It really is disgusting to read and hear older stories that involve women being used and treated as objects rather than people when it came to family, patriarchal societies and their role as a wife.