Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Argue that ""The story of an Hour" dramatizes the theme that domesticity saps a woman's spirit and physical strength.

Concerning "The Story of an Hour," the argument you're
seeking to make is an easy one. 


The woman is a housewife,
her spirit has been broken, and she has a heart condition.  That should about do
it. 


All you need is some
details. 


The husband is a fine, normal husband who does
not mistreat his wife.  She has a fine, normal domestic life.  At first, she reacts as
one would expect when she hears that her husband is dead.  Your argument depends on her
situation being a normal, domestic situation.  If she's the victim of abuse or anything
like that then your argument fails.


Once she has time to
think about her husband's death, the woman understands that his death sets her free. 
You will want to document from the text her elation and excitement at being set free
from domesticity, and contrast those feelings with what she is escaping
from.


Finally, you'll need to use quotes that detail the
wife's heart condition.  Establish that she is already ill before she hears of her
husband's death, and then dies from the shock that he is still alive and her freedom is
lost. 


Technically, you may not really be able to make a
logical connection between her heart ailment and her domestic role as a woman and wife
in a patriarchal society.  But the condition is present in the story, so you can still
use it. 


Be sure to cite evidence from the text. 
Generally, use at least one quote for each point you make, although sometimes you'll
need more.  Use short, spot quotes and don't allow the quotes to dominate your own
ideas. 

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