Freedom: Myth or Reality?

Disclaimer: Please read the story here before you proceed. It will help you to understand the post and the associated context in a better way.

Freedom popularly means, “ a state of not being enslaved or oppressed”. At an individual level, freedom connotes so much more. The idea of freedom would also mean freedom from society’s interference, to live life on one’s own terms and to have the right to an opinion.

The story of an hour is a short but impactful story written by Kate Chopin based on the theme of freedom. It not only highlights the struggle of a newly widowed woman towards emancipation but also the role of freedom in our lives, which is taken for granted.

The story begins with the protagonist being informed about her husband’s death. But unlike the conventional women who go into disbelief and denial, Louise cried at once with “wild abandonment”. The moment she went into her room to grieve for her husband’s death, Louise found her lost freedom! It was snatched away from her and was concealed deep in her heart.

Alas! When her husband returned, she refused to give up her freedom and chose to die.

The story opens with Louise Mallard’s heart trouble. Her sister was cautious to even inform her of the death of her husband Brently, fearing that Louise might die of shock. On the contrary, this news liberated Louise from the ties of marriage and brought back life and happiness into her pale and sickly existence. Although she had loved her husband and would cry at his dead remains, Louise had buried herself alive to live as his wife. The inner death was the cause of her weak heart. When Brently passed away, Louise was resurrected.

She could finally exercise her individuality. The patchy blue sky, chirping birds and the “delicious breath of rain”, outside her window, were inviting her to metamorphosize from being an umbra to a sparkling bright light. 

The life which was a dull monotonous rut until the day before had suddenly become an elixir! 

She was surrounded by her dreams and desires that even her aura started to shine. But the irony was when her husband returned alive, Louise’s heart couldn’t accept it and she died of shock. She wanted freedom one way or the other.

The doctors claimed that she died “of the joy that kills”. But in reality, she couldn’t handle the oppression anymore. She received her due freedom. She finally became the free spirit that she always wanted to be.

We would never know why Louise was unhappy in her marriage. Whether she was yearning for individual space in the marriage or was trying to fit into the mould of a dutiful wife, one has no idea. But she did feel claustrophobic. 

 The story entails the events that took place within 60 minutes. But it is so thought-provoking that it questions the invisible shackles of the society tied around us. No doubt one’s individuality needs to be treasured. To live, to laugh, to dream, to breathe, to hope and to simply exist for oneself is woven beautifully by Kate Chopin.