Feminism in Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”

by Shawn Hassen

The genius irony in “The Story of an Hour” will catch students off guard in the best way possible, but Kate Chopin’s feminism bears considering.

Theme: Marriage As Oppressive

Chopin’s feminism intentionally builds throughout the story. At first, Mrs. Mallard’s reaction is predictable. She is shocked by the news of her husband’s death, and as we might expect, she is immediately grief-stricken. But as she sits alone, other unsuspecting emotions come upon her, the most exhilarating of which is the thought of her freedom now that her husband is gone. With this “progression” of emotions, Chopin posits that women are victims of social conditioning. Louise Mallard has been following society’s cues: she married, and it follows that now she would necessarily grieve the loss of her husband. Yet against her own “will” (which has presumably been conditioned by society), Louise actually feels joy overtaking her. In other words, her previously unrecognized instincts are celebrating her newfound freedom from marriage, a social institution which, according to Chopin, subjugates partners. With Mrs. Mallard’s progression of emotion, Chopin claims that marriage is a debilitating social institution—that in fact, a woman’s true, instinctual nature is to be free, independent, and living for herself (not another). And this instinctual longing for freedom is so fierce that when it is snatched from her—when Mr. Mallard shows up alive—the horror and dread kill her.  

The Story’s Correlations/Contrasts to Scripture

This story packs a compact, intense naturalist and feminist message, the foundations of which biblically depict human sinful nature. On the one hand, Chopin presents men as living for themselves and their personal gain. On the other hand, she presents women as longing to live for themselves. Chopin’s criticism of men appears to lie not in the fact that they live for their own desires, but that they do so by using women to build their success and comfort. Chopin actually applauds living for self, as long as it is not impinging on another’s freedoms. This story claims that women are designed, by their very nature, to live for self, so anyone or anything who interferes is oppressive.

Nothing could be more unbiblical than intentionally living for self (or using others in an attempt to live for self). We have many passions, desires, personal choices, and freedoms that God has given us to enjoy in a modern society, but we were created—designed—to live in community. With friends, children, co-workers, spouses, parents, we are called to love selflessly, thereby both bringing blessing and receiving blessing. Living intentionally for self is empty at best and destructive at worst. Marriage, the particular institution with which Chopin takes such issue in this story, was created by God to be life-giving. It was created to bless men and women with a unique intimacy and to serve as the foundation for the family structure. Although countless sinful men and women both have led to its perversion, the marriage union as it was intended is a gift from God and not to be considered an oppressive, debilitating social institution.