Topic > Plot, character development, irony and narrative in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

Although it is difficult to go against the beliefs of the general public, writer Kate Chopin manages to create quality, thought-provoking literature . Using narrative story conventions such as character development, plot development, and irony to his advantage, he draws readers into the world of emotions that most people would not approve of. Kate Chopin demonstrates her appreciable literary talent in 'The Story of an Hour' by making plot and character development go hand in hand and with her use of narrative irony and intriguing vocabulary. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Chopin beautifully integrates two conventions of narrative, plot, and character development. Plot is a literary term used to describe the events that make up a story, or the main part of a story. In the plot of narrative stories there is exposition, a rise to action, a climax, and a fall from action. Character development is the second thing that allows Chopin to write such an intriguing story. Character is what you are left with after you finish reading a story. The actions in the plot are performed by the characters in the story. Characters make something happen or produce an effect. Chopin uses character development to heighten the plot so much that readers can feel the emotions very closely. In the story, these are dynamically interconnected with each other. The plot primarily takes place in the mind of the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard, making it crucial for readers to understand her personality and where her thoughts come from. She is portrayed as a tender woman who suffers from heart problems. This is important to the plot as it explains why her sister exercised caution in breaking the news to her. Mrs. Mallard is also described as "young, with a beautiful, calm face, whose features revealed repression and even a certain strength." This is important information as it explains why she only mourns her husband's death momentarily. In simple words, repression means the action or process of suppressing a thought or desire in oneself so that it remains unconscious. Mrs. Mallard's marriage was restrictive in the sense that she could never express herself freely except in her unconscious. We can observe that Mrs. Mallard becomes extremely confused when she hears the news; she resists her newly acquired freedom as it is her characteristic trait of being timid, weak and helpless. As she begins to accept the feeling of liberation, she begins to call herself a “goddess of Victory.” According to Urban Dictionary A goddess is a woman so beautiful, brilliant, and healthy that she is simply not like any other woman on Earth and therefore possesses some sort of unusual spiritual element that, while it cannot be solidly defined, is clearly present. Mrs. Mallard begins to feel beautiful and happy as she wins the battle of wills after years of oppression in her marriage. She first shows her newfound beauty and strength when she lets her sister in to see the "triumph in her eyes". The aforementioned blend of character and plot development not only for the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard, but also for Mr. Brently Mallard. . The only glimpse we have of Mr. Mallard's character is from this part of the text: "Chopin writes "There would be no powerful will to bend his into that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have the right to impose a will private about her. a similar one. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem not.