Symbolism and Mrs. Mallard

In the short story “The Story of an Hour” the theme is clearly stated. The theme is “Mrs. Mallard’s desire to be independent. ” The theme is expressed through the story through characterization and irony. However, the theme is expressed the most though many examples of symbolism. For example a few examples of symbolism are spring time, comfortable armchair, and Mrs. Mallard’s heart condition. The first example of symbolism that is found in “The story of an hour” is spring time. In the story it says “she could see the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life” (Chopin).
This helps to symbolize Mrs. Mallard realizing that her life without Brently is like a new start. The symbol of spring time also ties into the theme of the story. It helps to portray that Mrs. Mallard likes the way her new life would look without Brentley. She also realizes that she would feel free and independent. The next example of symbolism is found in the story is the comfortable armchair. After Mrs. Mallard hears about the news that her husband had died she sat in a “comfortable armchair”(Chopin).
This comfortable armchair symbolizes Mrs. Mallard’s feeling of become comfortable with her husband’s death. This symbol also helps to support the theme because it also proves that Mrs. Mallard is become comfortable with the thought of independence and freedom. The last account of symbolism that is found in the story is Mrs. Mallard’s heart condition. At the beginning of the story it is said “Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with heart trouble”( Chopin). In the story heart trouble symbolizes her stress and unhappiness in the marriage.

This also relates to the theme of the story because it expresses that she wasn’t happy with Brently and that would explain why she felt that sense of freedom. In the end of the story Mrs. Mallard dies of overjoy. The reason she died of overjoy was simply the thought of living her life free and independent. In conclusion the short story “The story of an Hour. ” Symbolism is used all throughout the story in order for the author to express the theme of the story. Without the use of these examples of symbolism the theme would not be so boldy expressed.
Spring time, heart condition, and the comfortable chair are just a few of the many examples of symbolism that is used to express the theme of “The Story Of an Hour” Works Cited “The Story of an Hour Theme. ” 123HelpMe. com. 18 Feb 2013 <http://www. 123HelpMe. com/view. asp? id=155496>. “Symbolism in The Story of an Hour. ” 123HelpMe. com. 18 Feb 2013 <http://www. 123HelpMe. com/view. asp? id=132646>. Arp, Thomas R. and Greg Johnson. Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense. 10th Edition. Boston: Wadsworth Publishing, 2008. Print.