Does it come from within that makes us who we are, or is it our environment that shapes us? The debate is open. Comparing “The Story of an Hour,” written by Kate Chopin, and “Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut, the idea that society influences an individual's identity is portrayed through different scenarios. Society has rules to follow, deviance is frowned upon and obedience only causes repression on the individual who then loses their individuality. The freedom to be ourselves is important and worth defending. In "The Story of an Hour," the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard, has lost her identity to her husband. With Mr. Mallard's death, Mrs. Mallard exclaims that "there would be no powerful will that would bend her into that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will on their fellow man" (Chopin 222 ) . Often, people in relationships try to mold the other person to fit their needs. Through Mrs. Mallard's eyes, this influences whether "a kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime..." (Chopin 222). If someone is intruding on your freedom, which includes the right to be who you are, conflict can arise in the relationship. There are those who manage to refuse the pressure of change, but some collapse under the stress and end up changing who they really are. During the Victorian era, the time this piece was written, society was patriarchal. Women were expected to be submissive and obedient to their husbands. Mrs. Mallard speaks of feeling “…crushed by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul” (Chopin 221). She grew tired of fighting for her voice,...... middle of paper......or user attention, wishing she had never possessed these qualities in the first place. Society makes it difficult to show your individuality, especially if it is extraordinary, because society makes you ashamed of being different from everyone else. Through the short stories "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut and "Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, we see that society can influence one's identity. Society's expectations, rules, and/or laws may prohibit certain behaviors, such as rejoicing over the death of a loved one. Being denied the right to be yourself can bring with it feelings of repression or subsequent guilt for being that way. Society in general does not easily accept change or deviation from the norm. A difference in views, opinions and feelings creates a change for the better and can only be expressed through different individual identities.