A Love That Kills: Imagery in Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”
Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour masterfully uses imagery to convey Mrs. Mallard’s evolving emotions after learning of her husband’s death. Through nature’s renewal, sky symbolism, and physical sensations, Chopin illustrates the protagonist’s fleeting sense of freedom. The vivid imagery allows readers to perceive Mrs. Mallard’s inner transformation and ultimate fate. By engaging the senses and emotions, Chopin highlights the deeper themes of autonomy, marriage, and societal expectations.
References
Berkove, Lawrence I. “Fatal Self-Assertion in Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”.” American Literary Realism, vol. 32, no. 2, 2000, pp. 152-158.
Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” KateChopin.org, 2020, Web.
Miall, David S. Literary Reading: Empirical and Theoretical Studies. Peter Lang Publishing, 2007.
Reference
StudyCorgi. (2025, February 17). A Love That Kills: Imagery in Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”. https://studycorgi.video/a-love-that-kills-imagery-in-chopins-the-story-of-an-hour/