Love Me Not 2

The Story of an Hour
Kate Chopin

Chopin's use of imagery in The Story of an Hour allows for the reader to envision the type of pain that Mrs. Mallard is experiencing. After Mrs. Mallard is told that her husband has died, she stays seated in a chair where she observes the happenings outside of a window. As she contemplates her life after her husband has died, she begins to experience feelings of helplessness. "She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless, except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her, as a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams"(Chopin). After reading this portion of the story, I was able to visualize what Mrs. Mallard looked like as she mourned her husband's death. I feel as though her feelings of motionless were more of a shock from losing her soul mate. Once someone's soul mate has passed, I feel as though a part of that person has died as well. When two people become so invested in each other, they cannot help but become one entity. Through Chopin's use of imagery, I was able to envision the way in which soul mates are connected. Mrs. Mallard and her husband would not be separated from each other for long, which is truly how soul mates live and die.