Character analysis on the character Mrs. Mallard in the story of an Essay

Character analysis on the character Mrs. Mallard in the story of an hour by kate chopin - Essay Example It suggests that Mrs. Mallard was feeling restricted and limited by the demands of marriage and that the death of her husband was giving her hope of regaining her independence and individuality. This could be the reason why the narrator describes that Mrs. Mallard has â€Å"slender hands†, â€Å"dull eyes† and eminent â€Å"physical exhaustion†. In fact, the narrator’s account of Mrs. Mallard’s physical exhaustion is analogous of a ghost haunting her body and soul. This shows that the bounds of marriage have been taking a toll on Mrs. Mallard (Chopin 11). Mrs. Mallard is integrated into her society’s tradition. It is clear that the people in her society mourn the departure of their loved one. Richard, Mallard’s friend â€Å"leaves the office† and joins Josephine, Mrs. Mallard’s sister, in consoling and comforting Mrs. Mallard. Her sorrow is manifest and when she feels overcome by a feeling of elation, she locks herself upstairs. This is probably because she is ashamed of such a feeling and the fear to be construed as one who rejoices in the pain of others. However, locking herself upstairs was also meant to give Mrs. Mallard space to indulge the feeling of freedom away from the eyes of others (Chopin 13). There is symbolism in the excerpt where Mrs. Mallard locks herself upstairs. The narrator paints Mrs. Mallard as a goddess of victory that could be an allusion to the mythical goddess of Athena. If at all this was the narrator’s intended allusion, there is an irony in it. This is because goddess Athena was believed to be the defender of her family but Mrs. Mallard is instead experiencing freedom after her husband’s death. As a goddess though, she gets the authority and the power to order people especially when she authoritatively tells Josephine, â€Å"go away†, when she knocked at her door. The room she locks herself in comes out as her court of majesty wherein she