1     Is there life after death?  In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” Mrs. Mallard “is drinking the elixir of life through her open window.”  It is possible that this very elixir provides Mrs. Mallard with her freedom through eternal life.  Through Chopin’s use of characterization, conflict, and symbols, the author reveals the theme that like Mrs. Mallard, some people can achieve freedom through eternal life. [Does "eternal life" here mean life after death, or, as in "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," life without death? The basic problem with this essay is that it overlooks the primary point of the story -- Louise glimpses freedom as a result of the death of her husband, and then loses that freedom with the realization that he is still alive. It is a story of "an hour" because Louise has only an hour of freedom. Although the writer of this essay makes a valiant attempt to support the thesis, there really is not enough religious (or moral) symbolism, etc. to support it.]

2     Chopin’s physical and emotional characterization of Louise suggests the woman is experiencing a spiritual encounter that includes the possibility of eternal life.  Early in the story, Chopin uses characterization to describe Mrs. Mallard’s physical condition, noting that she has “heart trouble” (12); this description foreshadows her death, [i.e. not eternal life] which will take place later in the store [story]. [Isn't it also symbolic?] The author illustrates that Mrs. Mallard is physically exhausted by writing that when she hears the news of her husband’s supposed death, she sinks into a “comfortable, roomy armchair . . .  quite motionless with her head thrown back” (12). Chopin goes on to write that Louise experiences “physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her a soul” (12), which allows the reader to see that something is taking place within her both physically and emotionally. [This paragraph demosntrates that "something is taking place," but not that it relates to eternal life.]

3     The author also describes Mrs. Mallard as feeling “young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength” (12)-- the strength of God. [What suggests that it is the strength of God, and not just a personal strength of her own?] From the statement “now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously” (12), the reader can sense from these violent upheavals that Mrs. Mallard is being possessed by a force greater than herself (God entering her soul). [Why not just the anticipation of freedom?] All of the physical characteristics the author gives here present the reader with insight that something is taking place within Louise’s soul.  “She [is even] beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her” (12).  Could she be feeling the presence of God?  [Why not just the presence of freedom?] The author also implies the process of purification that is necessary to gain eternal life, by writing that Mrs. Mallard’s “pulse beat p[f?]ast, and the coursing blood warmed her body” (13). [How does this suggest purification?] She was whispering “free” (12).  Is this the freedom of eternal life? [I see nothing in the story that suggests that she wants eternal life. Everything appears to suggest that she wants freedom from her husband.]

4     In addition to characterization, Chopin uses conflict throughout the story to emphasize the theme of eternal life.  For instance, she creates a conflict between appearance vs. reality.  It would appear that Richard has a valid claim that Mrs. Mallard’s husband was killed, but later, the reader can see, [no ,] that in reality, this is not the case.  In addition, on the surface, it appears her body and soul  are set free because of her husband’s untimely death. [Yes] But in reality, her body and soul are set free through eternal life. When the reader sees she is “drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window” (13), he or she can associate the elixir with eternal life. [It says "life," not eternal life."]

5     The conflict of man vs. man [mam vs. woman?] is evident within the story.  The reader can see that Louise seems to have stayed with their [her] husband out of a traditional sense of obligation. The reader can see this because the author implies Mrs. Mallard’s husband has “impose a private will” upon his wife (13).  However, her devotion to her husband is not without some limits, for she “loved” her husband only “sometimes” (13). [Nice point] The line “she belonged to him absolutely” (13) leads the reader to believe her husband has thought he has complete control over her, creating a conflict involving male vs. female.  Through this conflict, the reader can see that Mrs. Mallard has a need for the freedom that only comes through eternal life. [I see the need for freedom, but I still don't see much related to eternal life.]

6      In addition, the conflict of man vs. God is also prevalent within the story.  Louise is fearful of “this thing that is approaching to possess her, [because] she [strives] to beat it back with her will” (12).  The “thing creeping out of the sky” here could be interpreted as God, whom she tries to fight with her own human and will. [Without more evidence, it could also be interpreted as the Devil.] However, just as any mortal being, she is “powerless” (12) against the will of God.  By the end of this story, when this conflict is resolved and Mrs. Mallard whispers “Free!  Body and soul free!” [SS -1] She kept whispering, the reader can see that the “certain strength” (12) she receives is from a power greater than herself. [CS -1] This power is the presence of God offering eternal life. [Why isn't the "certain strength" simply the ability to survive the marriage?]

7     The symbols that are used in the story further support the idea of freedom through eternal life.  In the beginning of the story, Chopin refers to Mrs. Mallard’s “heart trouble” (12); since the heart is symbolic of the spiritual being, the author is showing here that in a sense, the character is experiencing spiritual trouble. [Why not just love/marital trouble?] The “open square before her house” (12) is symbolic of her morality (Louise’s mental and emotional attitudes at the present time).  Her house is symbolic of  her sacred place, this allows the reader to see that her house is a place where she can conduct her spiritual worship. [CS -1] [Is there any evidence that she ever worships?] The breath of “rain” is symbolic of her purification, and the “distant song” and the “sparrows twittering”(12), reminiscent of hymns or songs of praise, are symbolic of her expression of love for her God. [If there were more to support this, it would be good.] The “blue sky” (12) is symbolic of the presence of God and Heaven.  Matthew of the New Testament, states all people of the earth will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory, for he shall come from the east and shines as far as the west.  In the “west” is symbolic of death. [Blue (clear) sky is also symbolic of freedom.]

8     The fact that Louise’s bosom “rose” (12) in violent upheaval is symbolic of her resurrection.  When she “opens and spreads her arms out [in] welcome” (13), this action is symbolic of her surrender to God.  (God is now holding her). [Why isn't it simply a sign of her welcoming her new freedom?] Her “moment of illumination” (the true light) signifies her soul is now saved.  She even breathes a “quick prayer” (13), which is symbolic of her quest for a divine intervention and repentance[.] (s[S]he is totally and completely engulfed with the presence of God). [No, what was she praying for? A long (not eternal) life.] One of Mrs. Mallard’s last actions is to rise (resurrection action) “at length and [open] the door” (the gateway to her salvation).  In addition, the author provides the reader with the words “joy that kills” (13), the joy is symbolic of her freedom and  “that kills” is symbolic of her eternal life. [CS -1] [Why would "that kills" be symbolic of "eternal life"?] These words provide the reader with an understanding that a human being must experience death to receive eternal life.  Louise has found her freedom through eternal life.

9    Louise’s figurative elixir of life is the foreshadowing [?] that Chopin uses in the story to express Louise’s freedom through eternal life.  In regards to past readings, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment, [Title] the elixir is both literally and symbolically a recipe for immortality or eternal life.

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