"The Story of an Hour"

“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

Mrs. Mallard was in shock upon receiving news of her husband’s death.  Her stream of consciousness following that moment revealed the theme of the importance of a woman’s independence. Women desire to love and be loved by a man. “Men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature,” (Chopin). This dependence on love results a woman losing sight of her independence and freedom within herself. Mrs. Mallard’s conflicting feelings being transformed into happiness reveal her finding and realization of her independence. “What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being,” (Chopin). Although Mrs. Mallard was in a loving relationship, nothing accounts for only having to worry about making herself happy. In a relationship, she had to account for her decisions making not only herself happy but her husband. The theme this short story presents is that independence can be stronger than the mystery of love.