I found this story to be quite fascinating.
It starts off telling the reader that Mrs. Mallard has a heart condition, and finishes with Mrs. Mallard dying due to her heart condition.
In this story, Mrs. Mallard is being told that her husband has died, at first she is taken aback, and sad about the news.
But then, something clicks.
Mrs. Mallard has been living a subservient lifestyle, probably depressed, and extremely unsatisfied with her life.
Divorce is frowned upon in society at this time and the only way she could be free from this life she dislikes is if she becomes a widow. And that she does!
She realizes she will be free to live her own life, and do the things she wasn't able to do before! She is overcome with happiness and serene bliss.
""Free! Body and soul free!" she kept whispering."
Her whole life is about to be turned around and she can start fresh in life and better herself. She is so excited, so happy, and thinks she is drinking the "very elixir of life."
Then suddenly, without warning, the reader is reminded of this heart condition she has, when she dies. The doctor stating she died of heart disease--
"oh the joy that kills."
Magical......Ironic......Hopeful......Tragic...... all at the same time!
Definitely my kind of story.
Definitely my kind of story.
Indeed, this piece is magical, ironic, hopeful, and tragic. All in all Mrs. Mallard wanted to be free and in her case death was her only option since she couldn't speak out of her unhappiness or even think of getting a divorce. It is funny how she thought she'd be free of her burden of marriage when learning of her husbands death only to be set free with her own passing. Whether or not it happened how she wanted it to happen, she got what she wanted which was to be free...
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your point of view. As you said divorce was frowned upon in the Victorian period and it was as if she was locked in a corner without any freedom. At times I wonder if she was going to feel that way, she should have never married but then again how would she know what would happen. She unfortunately let the joy get to her and she passed. I suppose all things must come to an end.
ReplyDeletegood discussion. See my comments on Amber's blog (current blog) as well as previous blogs
ReplyDeleteAlso, review study materials,etc, as directed on my post to the class blog.
Mrs Mallard has a "heart condition" in more ways then one, right? What are the symbolic, as well as literal, suggestions of this?
Exactly. The fact that Mrs. Mallard has "heart trouble" has more meaning than just her medical condition.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your take on this short story.This piece makes the reader think about how you treat people. To read the way someone felt when her husband has passed, it was as if it was the happiest she was in years and was taken away from her in the last paragraph. Seems that her heart condition was brought on by him and lead to her death.
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog