Emotions in ‘The Story of an Hour’ by Selina Jamil

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The Story of an Hour
Between 1867 and 1877, Chopin was among the women who had opposed the expectations of the social society for the duties of women particularly the wives after they got married. The story was then known as “The Dream of an Hour” in 1894 before the title was changed to “The story of an Hour” in 1895. Regardless of whether it was a story or a dream, the story takes one hour full of drama. It begins with Mrs. Mallard receiving the sad news of the death of her husband and ends with her death after suddenly spotting her husband at the door. Jamil starts by stating the importance of freedom for married women. In her thesis, she says that most women after getting married, the society views them as a property of the man and do not have free will.
The heart is most often than not used to represent or symbolize emotions and love in the Western culture. Mrs. Mallard receives the news in this unique situation with joy, as she becomes a free Louise (Jamil, 2). Selina Jamil supports her thesis when she states that the heart problem was not just a physical ailment but resulted to the emotional, psychological burden that was caused by the powerful will of the husband that silenced Mrs. Mallards own will. The actions that took place were all attributed to the emotions.
Life in the 19th century limited the independence of women once they got married. Jamil references the four scholars Evans, Cunningham, Daniel and Jeremy to support her argument.

Evans states that women were viewed as just a property of the man, which forced them to have constrained hearts. Cunningham similarly said that struggling to understand freedom made Mrs. Mallard strain her physical and spiritual look, as it was a rare case for a wife to feel free. Daniel mentions that the social norm had made women so rigid in that in order to explore the freedom, they had to lose themselves (Jamil, 10). Jeremy’s argument related to the level of technology as they influenced the life Mrs. Mallard in a different way. All these scholars explained how the society had made women in marriage weak and dependent. The factors made their emotions death threatening as they lived lives of stress and submission.
Jamil gives the lack of independence of women during those days as women were merely seen as property. Her majoring on emotions in the story displayed what emotions could do to the life of married women. Sentiments determined the happiness or the sadness of the woman, as they would only express one if chances of freedom were evident. Receiving the news of the death of the husband in that community would usually be received with sadness, but in this case, it transformed into joy with the realization of freedom (Jamil, 63).
Jamil concludes her research by mentioning that equality was an essential aspect of the lives of a couple. Decisions made in unison enable both partners to grow and prosper in the marriage. Jamil expression on matters concerning emotions proves vital, as recognition of women is also essential. She states that it is the instinct of human beings to find independence, and on the onset, nothing can stop it. Louise had escaped the control of her life and accepted freewill.
Works cited
Jamil, Selina S. “Emotions in The Story of an Hour.” The Explicator, 67.3 (Spring 2009): 215-220. Print.