My first response to Kate Chopins story was sorrow. In the middle of the story i felt happiness for the characters feeling of relief, joy and freedom. she felt so trapped in a world that she was unable to change until a surprising turn of events. I can relate to the feeling of being stuck in a relationship that you are afraid to leave and have settled in. Then one day, your world shifts slightly allowing you to break free finally. Along with the joy of her freedom, the character also expresses shame and grief with the same emotions. I enjoyed how the author described what could be mistaken for complete sadness but turned out to be the overwhelming joy of her future ahead that finally only belonged to her.
The element i believe the author used is situational irony. The reader sees a situation unfolding and imagines detail after detail that some small hints in the beginning may have been lost. One important detail as the characters heart condition. You really start to sympathize with the characters as her joy for her future becomes so exciting. It was sad that it had to take her husbands death for this freedom to be hers but she didn't care. In the end it was her death that actually happened which is shocking and the complete opposite of hat was foreseen in her future. It didn't take her husband dying rather her own death to solidify her freedom.
I wonder what the reaction would be if her husband cam e home just ten minutes later of any time after she was able to confide her new found joy in anyone else?
That is an interesting question. It did make me think what would happen if the husband walked in while she was laughing with her sister. Unfortunately the story is not one hour ten minutes time but, as with many short stories, it leaves more to the imagination.
ReplyDeleteThe story did include an amazing twist in the characters reaction toward her husbands death. When she initially locked herself in her room I was sure she was ready to give up her life - either physically or mentally - because of the devastating news of her husbands death. Surprisingly, I found she was quite relieved to encounter a newfound freedom in her independence. Because her emotions kept fluctuating so often I wonder if she still would have felt joy had she not seen her husband so soon after she heard the news.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that it was ironic how the author added a twist to the story. Instead of her feeling sorrow over her husbands passing she felt happiness that she was free. Its too bad that she was not able to live much longer with her newfound freedom though.
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