Introduction

An hour's story is an example of a short story written in 1894 by Kate Chaplin. The story is about the main character, "Louise Mallard," who was a protagonist. The story reflects on how she dealt with the news of her husband's death. Louse was informed that her husband had died tragically in an accident. She reacted with grief and went to her room (LitCharts. 2020). In her room, she realizes that the death of her husband will make her happy. Even if Louse had no animosity with her husband, his death meant freedom for Louise. She saw death as a source of joy and freedom. When she went downstairs, she met her husband. She is shocked, and she dies. This paper will provide an analytical description of themes in The Story of an Hour.

The major theme in the story of an hour is freedom. Louise was informed that her husband had died. Initially, she was grieved. It is as if she had seen the seriousness of the husband's death. After some time, when she was in her room, she realized that her husband's death meant freedom for her. It is clear from the story that they had no animosity in their marriage. However, Louise believed that she had won the freedom in her life now that her husband was no more. She is happy that she will have an opportunity to live as she wanted due to her husband's absence through death. Death, in this case, has been the source of her freedom.

According to the story, it is clear that some women in society may seem happy and comfortable in their marriage, and this may not be the case. Many women live with their husbands happily, but in the husband's death, they feel happy due to the freedom they are likely to enjoy when their husbands are not there. From the story, it is clear that marriage partners may not be as happy as they seem with one another. The death of a single partner may be a source of joy to another. Louise's husband was not aware that his wife would feel free when he dies, but the opposite happened. Therefore, marriage partners must understand one another for maximum freedom and joy in the marriage to be realized (Oliveira, 2020).

Identity is another theme that is demonstrated in the story. Louise had not understood her identity until her husband died. The news of her husband's death was received with grief in the first place. After some time, Louise came to understand herself. She came to understand that she will be freer due to her husband's death. Human identity may be defined as the mindset, behavior, attitude, skills, and appearance of an individual. Some instances in life help individuals in understanding who they are. In the story, Louise was considering herself a wife before the death of her husband. It is also clear that they had lived peacefully. However, it has been found throughout their marriage, Louise had been denied the necessary sense of selfhood. Her role as a wife has been found to deter her understands her own identity. We can understand that married partners may fail to understand their identity as they live together from the story. When individuals live together as husband and wife, their roles may be intertwined to the point of failing to understand an individual's identity (Picas, 2011). Louise's husband's (Brently) death has given his wife a chance to claim and explore her own identity. Similarly, the identity of a marriage partner may be understood better after the loss of one partner.

Love and marriage is another important theme in the story. Brently and Louise were happily married. They had lived together as a husband and wife. It is clear from the story that the two marriage partners may not have experienced any animosity. However, Louise took her husband's death news as a source of joy and freedom. From the story, we can learn that individuals may be living together as a husband and wife in marriage, but the marriage's full potential may not be realized. There may be many negative issues hidden in the marriage (Rahmatika, 2018). Marriage partners may be experiencing some issues like lack of freedom but still, live together. One marriage partner may also know some secrets. The marriage partners may also not be able to understand themselves when they are living together. As a result, one marriage partner's absence may result in the other partner realizing their goals and objectives. Love is also very unique in marriage (Short stories and Films, n.d). Initially, Louise reacts with grief after learning about the death of her husband.  However, love in marriage may not be true as expected. It is as if Louise was pretending to love her husband. This is because it is ironic for somebody to feel free and happy because of a loved one's death. At the end of the story, Louise died after realizing that the husband was not dead. On seeing him, he collapsed and died. It is ironic for somebody to have a heart attack on seeing a loved person die.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Louise was informed that her husband had died. Initially, she was grieved. It is as if she had seen the seriousness of the husband's death. After some time, when she was in her room, she realized that her husband's death meant freedom for her.   According to the story, it is clear that some women in society may seem happy and comfortable in their marriage, and this may not be the case. Many women live with their husbands happily, but in the husband's death, they feel happy due to the freedom they are likely to enjoy when their husbands are not there.

Louise had not understood her identity until her husband died. The news of her husband's death was received with grief in the first place. After some time, Louise came to understand herself. It is clear from the story that the two marriage partners may not have experienced any animosity. However, Louise took her husband's death news as a source of joy and freedom. From the story, we can learn that individuals may be living together as a husband and wife in marriage, but the marriage's full potential may not be realized.

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