Can blogging about the story help you deepen your understanding?
1. Please read the story twice. Click on Woodlief's links during your second reading. 2. Make a comment on the blog: raise a question, add a unique thought, make a connection, mention literary devices you noticed, etc...3. Comment on one of your classmate's posts.
Bio: http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/hour/katebio.html
I really liked the part when she was in her room and noticed the sky outside. It spoke about the "Patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one above the other..." I think this was significant because it foreshadowed that she would find happiness in this great sorrow. It is sort of like the expression about every cloud having a silver lining, because blue skies are often associated with happiness, and because she could see the blue patches of sky, we knew that the grief would not end up being her most prominent feeling.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read the story, i was confused as to why the husband came home to Mrs. Mallard dieing, instead of Mrs.Mallard grieving over the husbands death. But when i read the story over a second time and clicked on the highlighted sentences, I came to a realization that Mrs.Mallard is quite possibly crazy. I think she wants to be freed from her love with her husband, which is why she keeps saying to let her soul be free into the blue sky after her husband dies.
ReplyDeleteConnor Moho
this story was a little confusing at first because it does not directly say what is going on with mrs. mallard, however, once you go back and read the cliff notes, you realize the she is greif stricken and hallucinating about her husband. This story was difficult to decifer, and made you think twice about what you were reading, which is why it was interesting.In conclusion by the end of the story your realize that all mrs. Mallard wants is to be freed of her bond with her husband and to go on living her life the best she can.
ReplyDeletethis story was a little confusing at first because it does not directly say what is going on with mrs. mallard, however, once you go back and read the cliff notes, you realize the she is greif stricken and hallucinating about her husband. This story was difficult to decifer, and made you think twice about what you were reading, which is why it was interesting.In conclusion by the end of the story your realize that all mrs. Mallard wants is to be freed of her bond with her husband and to go on living her life the best she can.
ReplyDeleteRoz T. period 5
I think that Mrs. Mallard is crazy as a result of the overwhelming news of her husbands death. When the widdow heard the news, "she wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms" (chopin 1). The initial reaction of her husbands death was shocking and she lost it right on the spot. There is a bad omen with the rainy weather and the "peddler crying," giving great sensory images. You feel bad for her when she realises that "she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead," (Chopin 1). All these thoughts absolutely get to her head, and she loses it, seeing things and screaming "free!free!free!" (Chopin 1). She has another delusion once she's back in her sister's arms of seeing her husband. This story makes me feel bad for Mrs. Mallard because she is so broken hearted over her loss.
ReplyDeleteJACKIE G5
At first, the story seemed to be a little confusing because once you find out about Mrs. Mallard's husband dying and then the fact that she had heart disease, the story gets a little confusing. She's sitting there at the window, thinking about how just yesterday she thought life would be long but now she didn't have to worry anymore. I thought that it was saying she was glad to have her husband die. Her sister knew exactly what she was doing, and the irony of love killing her shows how sick it can really make you.
ReplyDeleteDid Mrs. Mallard want to be apart from her husband? Do you think that she helped herself die? Because if you are really that upset you can cause your own death..
The fact that she says she wants her soul to be free into the blue sky means that all she has had is grey. Grey, being a gloomy color, shows the grief and the misery that she is going through. The blue sky is when she has no more worreis, and without her husband life will be shorter and easier, even if it may mean death.
Taylor S. P5
I like this story because it gives insight into how many women must have felt in that time period. With her husband around, Mrs. Mallard clearly has little freedom to live her life the way she wants to. Even though her husband loved her, and she loved him, she clearly still valued freedom even more. I can't imagine how that must feel, since women today are not so repressed.
ReplyDeleteG STRANGGGG KNOWWW WHATTT IT ISSSS
ReplyDeleteIt is evident that in this story, the main character has a psychological disorder. I realized this when in the story the author states "Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul." This quote presents a very strong and intimate connection between Mrs. Mallard's body and herself. Next, the author reveals that Mrs. Mallard is not an elderly woman as indicated in the first paragraph with reference to her "heart trouble". Finally, the fact that Mrs. Mallard wants to "free" her body, makes me think that she wants to free herself from whatever disorder is controlling her life. I am still confused about the two deaths in the story.
ReplyDeleteAmanda M Period 5
Molly - I completely agree with you, because I think that if we lived in this time period, we would be going crazy as well. It is hard to believe that anyone would be able to die because they wanted freedom from their husband so badly.
ReplyDelete-Carley W p5
I thought it was interesting how Choplin built up the suspense of Mrs. Mallard's death. It was like forshadowing in a way. Choplin showed how she was so distraught from her husband's death that it made her go crazy and eventually she died as well. The first time I read the story it was a little confusing, but reading it over with Woodlief's notes really helped to understand the story in full. I felt bad about what happened to Mrs. Mallard because she was so shocked and upset with the death of her husband that she could only grieve.
ReplyDelete-Jess Blitz p.5
I thought this story was really interesting because I really wasn't expecting that she would be happy that her husband died. This story also makes me wonder if other women in life feel the same way as Mrs. Mallard had. It has never crossed my mind that a woman/man who lost their spouse would feel full of life after such a tragedy. This may sound bad, but I think it was almost better that Mrs. Mallard died because if she had lived, I think she would feel a sense of guilt and would have wanted to feel that sudden joy again. Her relationship with her husband could have changed and I think it was good that her husband will remember her the way she originally felt about him.
ReplyDeleteDo other women who lose loved ones feel a sense of freedom? Is it common for women/men feel a sense of joy when their spouse dies?
Kelly L., P5
JackieChaaaan,
ReplyDeleteOne thing I didn't notice the "free!free!free!" thing until I just read your post. I agree with you completely and now I actually understand what the story was about. Her husband didn't actually die, and you do a good job in saying how she is so heartbroken over this loss that never occured.
TaylorStBlack
After reading this story TWICE, I found all the events and thoughts of Josephine Mallard to be very interesting. After word of her husband's death, she scurried to her room and thought about her feelings of sadness. But as she thought out loud, she had a sudden epiphany about her brighten future and was able to overcome that sadness in a hurry. And because she no longer mourned properly, she was punished. She was punished in the end by her own death and allowed her husband to mourn as she never planned to do.
ReplyDeleteComment: Connor Moho, i agree with your statement about setting herself free from him. Like i mentioned, she became so happy after sudden sadness that when the husband came home, she quickly lost her happiness again and died. She may not be as crazy as one would think. She maybe let her emotions get the best of her, literally.
Ryan H. Period 5
At first, I thought this short story was a little confusing. Going back and reading it through again, I thought the part where Mrs. Mallard chants "free, free, free!" hold some significance. By chanting the word "free" over and over again, this suggests that Mrs. Mallard wants to be free from the burden of her husband's death. This also foreshadows the ending, as Mrs. Mallard is truly "free" from her anguish and pain when she dies.
ReplyDeleteMadison B. per 5
Molly,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. Today, not many women would die just to break free from their husbands like in the time period of this story. Our thoughts have definitely changed overtime
-Jess Blitz p.5
Amanda M-
ReplyDeleteI never thought of it that way and I think it is really cool that you brought that point up. It never even crossed my mind that Mrs. Mallard had a psychological disorder. This also brings up the point that it is really interesting that this story (and other stories) can be interpreted so many ways. I didn't see the story the way you had and it makes me wonder how others saw it.
Good post!
Kelly L., P5
I dont think she's crazy. I think she's sad her husband died, but a the same time happy to be free of the responsibilities and burdens of marriage."There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature." Her heart problem was not only physical, but emotional and mental as well. Her heart was bound in marriage, and it wanted to be free, her body translated this into an actual physical ailment. When she went downstairs, and saw her husband was alive, she died because she couldnt bear to have her heart tied down again after being free, even for such a short time.
ReplyDeleteGretchen G
Taylor, I think you make a good point when you say Mrs. Mallard could have helped cause her own death by becoming so upset. I think the difference in reactions just shows that her freedom is more important to her than the love of her husband. her friends were afraid the the news of his death would upset her heart problems, but it was the news that he did not die that killed her.
ReplyDelete-When I read this story, I knew something dramatic was going to happen because of all the detail that was given. For example, there was constant repetition of the “open window.” There was significance to it, but I didn’t get it in the first reading. There was also a lot of comparison between the freeing of the body and soul, which she repeated. The author talks about the room, the air, the noises she hears from her window, etc. in great detail which foreshadowed something was going to happen.
ReplyDelete- Mrs. Mallard believed she was free at last when the news of her husband’s death arrived, but truthfully she was “too free.”
Reema C. Period 5
The literary device of sensory images was used; the author explained Mrs. Mallard's feelings very well. I was able to picture the story in my head and recognize how the main character was feeling. For example, she was like "a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams." This showed the reader that she was sad (initially). Also, I really like when the author said, "It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long." It is true that people often take life for granted; you never know what could happen. This shows that people should appreciate life, loved ones, etc. because everything could change in an instant.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I thought that the husband actually died. I did not realize that she was only imagining this until the second time I read the story. When she imagined life without her husband, she felt "free, free, free" and realized how much better life would be without him. Her emotions of his fictional "death" changed from sad to happy, then back to sad.
This leads me to believe she wasn't mentally stable.
Alexis M P5
I heard people saying that they thought Louis Mallard may have killed herself or that they think she was just crazy, but I don't agree with either of these ideas. In the beginning of the story it says that, "She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression..." which leads me to believe that at some point in her life, maybe all of it, or more likely, during her relationship with Mr. Mallard, that she had been repressed. She then, whispered to herself, "Free, free, free..." which makes me think that she felt free from this repression.. The fact that she thinks of all the days she will spend, only living for herself hint to this as well, not to mention that the author points out that Louis had loved Mr. Mallard sometime but more often she hadn't. I think that Louis Mallard was actually happy that her husband had died because she would get to be freed of all repression and "there would be no powerful will bending hers..." anymore. The story concludes with a huge clue to my theory, the doctors said that she had died from her heart disease, "of the joy that kills." She was so happy when she heard the news of her husband being dead that she had died of joy! I don't think that wanting a free life, away from her husband that she doesn't particularly love, makes Mrs. Mallard crazy at all. I think that maybe in the time that this story takes place that it was most likely very difficult for a woman to get a divorce and live well without a husband and therefore Mrs. Mallard stayed with Mr. Mallard. But I think she saw how she could benefit from his death when it came about and revelled in this, maybe a little too much. It is very ironic that while she was supposed to be grieving the loss of her husband, Mr. Mallard is ultimately the one grieving his spouse.
ReplyDeleteSteph Period 5 2/14/11
Molly, I definitely agree with what you said. Many women, at this time, felt as if they were "owned" by their husbands, instead of loved. Fortunately, times have changed and women are much more equal to men.
ReplyDeleteAlexis M P5
Blogging helps me to deeper understand the story because as I think about what i'm writing, or as i'm reading what other people's thoughts are on the story i can connect more to what they're saying.
ReplyDeleteI liked this story because it shows how much love means to people. The story says, "There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself." As she was thinking about life without her husband, she says "free, free" which implies that she is free from him and can go off on her own to pursue what she wants. She locked herself in the room by herself and thought of how much the loss of her husband meant to her and was so destraught by the "accident" he was in, but then changed her emotions so quickly where she was thinking about how much better life would be. It is ironic that when her husband came home he was the one who watched her die because the entire story is about Mrs. Mallard thinking about her husband's death. This is sad to me because loss takes a toll on people and Mrs. Mallard truly showed how much her husband meant to her because she died from thinking too much about the love her and her husband shared. She was heartbroken by his "death" and I can connect to this because my godfather recently passed away and his wife said the exact words that there was nothing else to live for. Her heart was shatterred just like Mrs. Mallard's was.
It's sad to me that someone who can make you so happy can also break your heart. Should we allow ourselves to love someone so much it hurts, or play it safe and avoid the pain that comes from loss?
Leah S. Period 5
Roz,
I agree this story was a bit confusing. After reading cliff notes on this, i too, realized what was actually going on. I believe she wants to be freed from the bond her and her husband shared, but also i think she's a little nuts because she made up the accident in her head. Everything would have been okay if she had just waited for her husband to come home and wasn't thinking so morbidly. She also knew she had a heart condition so it would have made more sense if she just put her "what if's" aside and lived in the present.
This story really tells the reader something. It's obvious Mrs. Mallard has something incredibly wrong with her besides just heart problems, but after reading the story just once it's not that evident. I like how the author went into the story convincing the reader Mrs. Mallard's husband was dead even if it was some what confusing... Besides just the story, I also read Chopin's biography. It's clear that Kate Chopin was a free, successful, independent woman who chose to marry for love not to be restrained from living life the way she wanted. So in a way, I think Chopin put a part of herself into Mrs. Mallard. Not necessarily how she personally felt with her own husband, but maybe how she would've felt if he hadn't been as supportive as he was. So how was Richard as a husband? Was he that bad to Mrs. Mallard to "free" herself? Or was she just nuts?
ReplyDeleteJenna L.
Period 5
Gretchy,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you say that Mrs. Mallard is not crazy. She is grieving her husband, maybe in a strange way. Is there any way to know what really goes through the mind of a widow mourning her husband's death? I really liked how you compared her heart problem to be emotional and mental, not just physical.
Madison B. Per 5
Hey Gretchen!
ReplyDeleteThat is a very interesting point! I completely agree with you. Feeling freedom after such a long time, even for a second, can be exciting as well as overwhelming. She realized she was free, but as soon as she saw her husband, she felt her freedom slipping away.
Reema
Madison-
ReplyDeleteI really like your idea that when Mrs. Mallard actually dies she is really free from everything! That makes a lot of sense and now I really understand the author's significance for repeatedly writing the word "free."
Steph
Molly! I really agree with your post. Being married at this time must have been much harder than it is in present day. Woman were just a possession like any other house hold item...
ReplyDeleteJenna L
I thought this story was really interesting because I really wasn't expecting that she would be happy that her husband died. This story also makes me wonder if other women in life feel the same way as Mrs. Mallard had. It has never crossed my mind that a woman/man who lost their spouse would feel full of life after such a tragedy. This may sound bad, but I think it was almost better that Mrs. Mallard died because if she had lived, I think she would feel a sense of guilt and would have wanted to feel that sudden joy again. Her relationship with her husband could have changed and I think it was good that her husband will remember her the way she originally felt about him.
ReplyDeleteDo other women who lose loved ones feel a sense of freedom? Is it common for women/men feel a sense of joy when their spouse dies?
Kelly,
I agree that it is kind of strange that she was happy her husband died. The way she acts you would almost think it was a bad relationship, but theres no evidence of that it was. I rthink it might have been due to the times, women married really early, couldn't really get divorced, so the only way to get out was for the husband to die.
Gretchen G
I thought it was ironic that the thing that gave Mrs. Mallard so much joy, is the thing that killed her. I was also surprised to find that Mrs. Mallard was relieved about her husband's death, instead of being sad about it. She said that she was relived because she would be living for herself now and not for someone else. Have you ever felt relived after ending a relationship with someone?
ReplyDelete~Jessica c P6
I really thought it was interesting how the author had the view out of the wife's window full of life and beauty. It was contrasting to the death of her husband. I really didn't understand if she she was happy that he died or not? Then at the end she died of joy?!:(
ReplyDelete- Alexis A
Period 6
Hey Leah,
ReplyDeleteI feel that if you are in a relationship you should not play it safe. I feel that you should give it your all because you never know what will happen if you play it safe. Your heart may be spared a couple of times, but you may go through life wondering “what if?”
~Jessica C P6
After reading this story I found it very interesting how she described her new feelings as being "possessed". I found it odd that she cried for a long time and appeared sad and than she realized she now felt free. Reading this I felt pretty good about the woman, I mean sure, it's sad her hubby died, but she was happy. She decided she'd live the rest of her life living for herself because she never had before. It was probably all about her husband before. It was quite a twist to know her husband came home alive and unaware of the accident. It makes me wonder about how they figured he had died in the first place. I also found it really surprising that she was the one that ended up dying.
ReplyDeleteIt made me sad because here she was all excited about this "new life" and almost rebirth and then BOOM she ends up being the one who dies.
I wonder if she died because of her happiness or because of the disappointment that he was back...
Olivia N. 6
I think it's interesting that her husband comes back at the end. It was a nice twist that she died, but what do you think she died from. At the end of the story the doctors say she died from a "disease of the heart- the joy that kills." But during the story she seems happy to be free from the imposing and controlling man in her life. Yet if she died from a joy that kills, was she happy that her husband was actually alive? Earlier in the story she says that she usually didn't love her husband, at the end do you think she really did?
ReplyDeleteShama K
P6
Gretchen,
ReplyDeleteYour post really made me think. I never considered that other widowed spouses might feel the same as Ms. Mallard. However, is it also possible that she died of joy at the end after realizing he was home? Maybe she even thought she saw him outside of her window coming to the front door and that's why she felt joy suddenly?
- alexis A
period 6
I thought that the woman's relatives thought that she was devastated by her husband's death, and died of joy upon seeing him again, but she actually was overjoyed at being free from her husband and died of a negative shock at seeing him again.
ReplyDeleteI also liked the part that said Louise drank the 'elixir of life' from the open window; it reminded me of Harry Potter, when Voldemort was trying to acquire the Philosopher's stone to make the elixir of life.
-Jenny L. Period 6
Olivia, I think she died out of happiness, because the doctors say she died from a joy that kills. which is basically another way of saying that she died out of happiness.
ReplyDeleteShama K
Madison,
ReplyDeleteI totes never thought of the "freeness" that way. Your idea of her finally being free in death is really interesting and totally plausiable. Me like the concept.
-Olivia N 6
a little before the end i think that Mrs. Mallard just gave up and let herself die because she wanted to be with her husband. She allowed her soul take over her body so she could be with her hubby. I wasn't quite sure up til the very end why the words in the red were relating the soul to the body, but that kinda cleared things up i think. At the same time i feel like she was relieved to be done with ending her life and relationships with people. Do you think she gave up because she didn't want the life she had anymore, or just gave up because she had given up on everything and everyone around her?
ReplyDeleteJess,
of course people feel relieved after ending realitonships that were abusive, but most of the time people for a long time feel depressed and upset that the relationship ended and wonder what they could have done better to fix things and keep their relationship working. Ya know?
Stacy B per 6
"Her fancy was running riot along those days ahead of her. Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own. She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long."
ReplyDeleteIs it not sad that she dies now that she wants to live a long life?
Anjita P6
That which possesses Mrs. Mallard is said to "come out of the sky", out the sounds and light. This this could be so etheral because it only exists to Mrs. Mallard, emerging from her psyche like a train crashing through a wall.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that she tried to "beat it back" at first suggests that she thought of the spirit as something that she has avoided all her life. Maybe, because it appeared after her husband died, it represented the freedom of marriage, something that she has been conditioned to fear?
Luke S.
Period 6
I found this short story to be very ironic, and somewhat confusing. At the beginning, she was grieving over the loss of her husband, and she sat alone and sobbed. It was horrible news at first. But, I was wondering, what came over her all of a sudden? She saw something when she looked out the window that kind of snapped her out of her mourning. Suddenly, she was almost happy about the death of her husband, and I found that to be very strange. I realize that different people have a different way of getting over a loved one's death, but I would describe Mrs. Mallard as crazy. The notes that it gave questioned if maybe her heart problems were more than just physical, and I definitely agree with this statement. However, I would've reacted much differently.
ReplyDeleteSteph,
After reading your post, I thought more about the whole idea of "repression." Maybe her husband wasn't good to her, and she felt free from all the stresses in her life when he passed away. At first I thought she was crazy for being happy about her husband's death, but now I have a better understanding of why she acted this way. Thanks :)
Allie B Period 6
@ Anjita
ReplyDeleteIt is, given that her freedom was so quickly taken away from her. Ironically, it was the marriage ending that made her want to live a long life, but it was also the condition brought on by the marriage ending that killed her so quickly.
Luke S.
Period 6
At first, I thought that this short story was a little confusing because it describes Ms. Mallard as having heart trouble, so I thought she was an older woman. But then later on in the story it tells the reader that she is “young, with a fair, calm face.” I thought that it was good of Ms. Mallard to “recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her” which was the death of her husband, and she wanted to feel happy again. However, I thought it was bizarre how the author describes her joy as “monstrous.” At the end of the story, I believe that Ms. Mallard is actually insane from the death of her husband that she too, ultimately dies.
ReplyDeleteThe only real question I have is did she die of happiness and joy? Or because of heart disease?
-Julianne M. Period 6
When she first heard the news, I feel she was feeling abandoned by her husband and so sad that he was taken away forever. It seems they had toubles, but what marriage doesn't? She was happy that she doesn't have to deal with the status quo that, "Man is the high one, and women follow them." She might have died of relief and sadness, meaning she just got herself to realize that she wouldn't have to deal with a man and then he turns up, but she's happy he did because she didn't want him gone forever.
ReplyDeleteSarah p6
Gretchen-
I totally agree with you. I think she's totally gutted that he's gone but happy that she doesn't have to deal with him. She's not crazy, just tired.
I think that the whole point of the story was to share Louise's realization about her real feelings about her husband. At first, she's torn apart by the fact she's would have to live alone...however, then she comes to realize that even though she did love her husband (most of the time), he prevented her from living her life to its full potential. I think the idea of the patches of blue coming in through the clouds and the fact that its spring foreshadows change and symbolizes her change in attitude towards her husband.
ReplyDelete~Sreedevi D period 6
I just don't understand why she was happy when she lost her husband. This is really a tragic event that had no effect on her. She should have took it more seriosly and cared that her husband, the person who she loved, died.
ReplyDeleteWould ever be happy if you lost a loved one?
Austin C.
Period 6
@ Jenny..
ReplyDeleteI was also thinking the same thing. It didn't make sense to me that she'd die of happiness. She felt so free that her husband couldn't control her life anymore. But when he popped up into her life again, she died of tto much shock. She couldn't have her freedom anymore. So there's no pt. to her life anymore.
Anjita p6
First of all WORST ending ever. As bad as it sounds I was excited for Louise when she had her little moment in front of the window. For the most part marriage back then meant that a woman had to completely submit herself to her husband. This kind of unequal relationship is shown in the movie Chocolat with Josephine and her husband. Before she left him Josphine was so unhappy in her marriage and didn't really know who she was without him. When Vienne came to see her Josephine was like does "Serge know your here?". Old fashioned marriages like this weren't how I think a marriage should be like and I'm happy we've evolved from that perception. I don't blame her for realizing her knew found liberation, she no longer has to be bound by his will and sacrifice hers. She can now live her own life. But then the author ruined everything by making her die. I know she's heartbroken that this freedom was surprisingly taken away from her but come on. completely unecesary.
ReplyDeleteMolly, I completely agree with you on how this story gives insight on how women of that time period felt in their marriages.
Treasure p6
When I first read this article, I found it to be a bit confusing. Then when I went back through it and read it again I began to understand it more. I think it showed a lot that she was able to get over her husbands death and find a form of happiness again. I feel that Mrs. Mallard now has a feeling of guilt lifted off her shoulders. Making connections between different time periods in
ReplyDeleteI wounder if this is something common in the world today?
Grace N Period 6
When I read the story I found it to be a little confusing and wierd at first. It takes multiples times reading it through to understand what is going on in the story. After a few times re-reading I realized that she was depressed and grieving over her husband's death, but then after awhile she was able to find the silver lining and even though she loved her husband she felt free and now was unlimited opportunity whilst before she was tied down by her marriage. I really enjoyed the description of the sky from her window because I think that it accurately displayed her mood. I wonder if she will ever plan to remarry in the future or if she will stay as a widow for the rest of her life.
ReplyDeleteAustin,
I also think that she should have been much more depressed and I would think that any sane human being with humane emotions would find no peace or happiness in the death of someone that they had a pleasant relationship, but maybe he was abusive at times or did not let her live to her full potential
Jake Period 6
Some people thought that she died because she was so happy to see her husband alive but I think she died because she got really excited about her freedom. At the end, I think “the joy that kills” is her joy of what she got out from her husband’s death. I think she died because her joy was kind of sinful.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was kind of amusing when I read the part where Mr. Mallard came home alive. Mrs. Mallard thought she finally got her freedom but her hopes were crushed when her husband walked through the door. I kind of laughed at her because she jumped to conclusion and was let down. I was surprised that Mrs. Mallard believed Mr. Mallards death because if I was her I wouldn’t believe (wouldn’t want to believe) a death of a family member until I saw them.
Stacy,
I think don’t think she died because she gave up on everything because she was really excited about her freedom. Also, she keeps whispering “Free! Body and soul free!”. I think she would’ve wanted to live because she probably wanted to experience her new freedom.
Ashley Y. P6
Jenny, I agree with you that she died of negative shock instead happiness that her husband was alive. After her epiphany about the real role of her husband in her life, she had been ready to 'mayonaka on with her life (and was actually kinda motivated to do so). She was disappointed when she realized that her life wouldn't be taking that turn.
ReplyDeleteSreedevi 6
I enjoyed this story although it was somewhat confusing at first. I was unclear as to what she was doing in the room when Josephine was begging her to come out. What was the author refering to when she said she was "drinkning in the very elixer of life"? I thought it was interesting how the author used the patched blue sky to show the combination of happiness and grief that the character was feeling. I'm not sure if a plot twist is a literary element, but i thought it was clever of the author to show the the man that supposedly had died in the beginning was not actually dead.
ReplyDeleteSam B Per. 5
This story was a little confusing to me. But after reading through it a couple times and clicking on the red links it helped me put the whole story together. I noticed that after the loss of her husband She is finally noticing how much she loved him and how big a loss this is. The whole story has sad notes in it. For example; the peddler "crying" instead of say selling? The whole story has a sad tinge to it. What i wonder though is what significance the window has. i know it means something because all these thoughts are coming from this window, but what exactly does the window represent?
ReplyDelete-Jarrett L.
period 5
i agree with Jarrett it was really confusing to me too at first but in the end i think that her husband was the one keeping her in bondage and now that she was free the thought of her not having to respond to him was so overwhelming that she committed suicide like when she said ''free body free soul.''. i kind of got my train of reasoning from the last sentence like when they said it was an act of joy i just figured that the whole situation was so overwhelming that she didn't know how to respond and that the only logically way to deal was to commit suicide. and maybe another reason why she might have killed herself was because it may have been to good to believe.
ReplyDeleteLauren N period 5
I think this story was BEAUTIFUL. It really explains, like Molly said, how some women felt trapped. BUT...they wouldn't use the word "trapped," especially since marriage seemed an obligation, much like college is for us: life won't go on, according to society, if you don't get married (or, for us, go to college). She knew she should feel horrible, but looking out the window and realizing that the whole world was open to her made her think "wow...maybe I'm NOT sad." There's no doubt that Brently loved her so, but she just went along with love, in that normal daze, not questioning her feeling. And when this new feeling of freedom came upon her, she freaked out, because women aren't supposed to feel like that. Women aren't supposed to feel HAPPY when their husband dies before them.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, I loved the symbolism and the ending really threw me for a loop. I had no idea it would conclude with Mrs. Mallard's death.
To all you who say she's crazy: maybe she was, but call her that with care. The root causes of her craziness were among society's expectations.
- Tbone Masotta Period 6