Comparing the Use of Images in The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour

Comparing the Use of Images in The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour are two short stories both seemingly similar and contrasting in different ways. In Chopin’s story we see that Louise Mallard reveals her ironically natural feeling of joy and freedom following the news of her husband’s death. Louise’s sensation of freedom is conveyed through the use of vivid natural images and color. While in Colette’s story the two female protagonists contrastingly suffer from repression while the other practices freedom and liberty. These contrasting feelings are conveyed by the usage of various color images. Both Chopin and Colette address the theme of freedom and liberty from male control through the indirect use of natural, color, and vivid imagery. More often, the natural images are associated with the setting and the atmosphere, while color imagery is repeatedly linked to the physical appearance of the characters. In The Story of an Hour Chopin’s use of natural images develop and convey the theme of female freedom and liberty. The image of window is one of the most fundamental symbols which puts across this theme. The window exemplifies the ‘monstrous joy’ and the ironically natural freedom Louise is feeling in her following the news of her husband’s death. This oxymoron can be defined as the feeling she knows is considered ‘monstrous’ by society who does not expect her to be glad at her husband’s death. The way in which she faces the ‘open window’ reveals the new beginning she is looking forward to and her realization of a fresh start without her husband. Furthermore, the author’s application of an image of a ‘tree’ that were ‘aquiver’ and the ‘countless sparrows’ whic... ...n Chopin’s The Story of an Hour there is less work for the readers’ to work out specific hidden meanings. It is much harder to work out meanings when Alice doesn’t answer when Marc says 'were satisfied†¦Aren’t we, darling?’ Throughout the course of the two stories The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour, the use of natural, color, and vivid images are an essential tool for both authors to convey the theme of freedom and liberty from male control. The use of the various types of imagery shows the similar techniques Colette and Chopin shared. However, there are some minor differences these two stories shared, such as the use of dialogues and narratives as well as one being more symbolic than the other. The use of imagery is just a very small part of all the other features the writers used to develop the theme of female Freedom & Rights from male control.