3 crucial lessons on marriage from "the story of an hour"

Ten minutes. That's all it really takes to read Kate Chopin's infamous "The Story of an Hour." It's a brief read that packs a huge punch.

If you didn't read this one in your high school literature class, here's a quick summary. Essentially, Louise Mallard's husband, Brently, is a victim in a railroad accident. Upon hearing of his death, Louise retreats to her room. At first, the reader assumes she is devastated by the loss of her clearly beloved husband. As the story unfolds, however, the scenery changes. Suddenly, she's looking out the window into the great, big world and realizing a truth she hasn't experienced: she is "Free, free, free!" (which is one of my favorite quotes from literature because it packs such a punch and says so much with one repeated word).

Chopin goes on to note, "“There would be no one there to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself. 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."

At first glance, the story is a somewhat harsh story about the debilitating oppression women felt in marriage in the 1800s. To be married as a woman was to obliterate all hope of freedom and choice. However, it is important to note that Chopin also highlights that marriage is a contract that forces men to bend as well, so she does not exclude the male gender from her discussion.

Although written in an arguably different time period than the modern day, Chopin's story is a perfect read for modern men and women, in my opinion, because it still teaches so many lessons on marriage today. I think a quick read is really the learning we all need in order to have better relationships--with our spouses, but most importantly, with ourselves.

Lesson 1: Marriage shouldn't oppress you

The impact of the story is really that it takes a death for Louise to feel free. It's a cruel truth that sticks with the reader long after the last sentence. However, I think it's such an important lesson for modern marriage as well.

Yes, marriage requires sacrifice and compromise. But one should not feel oppressed in a union. One should, quite contrarily, feel freer to explore, to live, and to be bold. Certainly, anytime two people come together and decide to travel life together, there will be sacrifices of self. Chopin reminds us all, though, and especially women, that we cannot lose ourselves in the commitment. We must maintain an ability to look out the window and see the world beyond just our domestic life. We must feel free enough to explore, to choose our paths, and to breathe in life fully.

2. You cannot wait for the right time to really live.

Life is filled with unexpected moments, as the ending of Chopin's story reveals. Life is short, and it goes fast. You cannot wait for the right moment, the right milestone in life to get out there and live your life. Mrs. Mallard waits until it is way too late in order to start thinking about what she wants out of life. 

It is our duty, whether married or not, to explore our hearts' desires and fulfill them--not tomorrow, not when our spouse dies, and not when x-y-z fall into place. It is our duty to fulfill them today, right now, because nothing is guaranteed.

3. Monotony murders the soul and marriages.

From the gray undertones to the contrasting spring day the story notes after Louise's husband dies, it is evident that the couple was living in a state of monotony to some degree. With her husband's death, Louise can finally see adventure, possibility, and, thus, joy. 

Chopin reminds us that monotony and routine slaughter our happiness--in marriage, in our jobs, and in our lives in general. By having Louise's senses pick up on things beyond the room, Chopin notes that there is a big, wide world out there if we take the time to explore it.

I think it's a healthy thing for us all to remember in our marriages. This doesn't mean we need our spouse to die in order for us to break the monotony. In a way, Louise and Brently serve as a cautionary tale. We don't have to live through such extreme circumstances to find happiness in our marriages. We can do something to breathe life into it now.

Go on a hot date, or try a new restaurant. Change up your weekly routine, or get your spouse a small gift. Go on a weekend getaway. Go on trips alone. Mix up your life and you won't need to wait for a tragic moment to feel free.


"The Story of an Hour" is considered a powerful feminist statement on marriage and how much women give up to enter the contract. However, I think it teaches lessons that are still relevant to all genders in the modern era. Essentially, the story reminds us:

1. Freedom is power. Protect it at all costs, even if you are in a relationship.
2. Don't wait to live boldly. Now is the time to find joy.
​3. Don't fall into a rut--in your marriage, in your career, or in your life.