We all take a different approach when we experience the loss of a loved one. Whether we burst into tears or scream in agony, it all depends on an individual reaction. Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" features an incident where the supposed death of a woman's husband makes her extremely joyful, but when it is discovered that the husband is still alive, the wife dies of disappointment. The situation indicates that Mrs. Mallard cannot escape her fate and oppression. Mrs. Mallard struggles to proclaim that she is free, body and soul, but freedom is closed and taken away when her husband is found alive and not dead as she thought. The critical lenses that emerge in this story come from the feminist perspective in addressing the theme of female oppression and also from a Marxist lens to show how power is achieved and once one has tasted it, one never goes back. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essayKate Chopin's hour-long story can be analyzed through a feminist lens, even if the author never indicated that she was a feminist. The feminist lens is demonstrated in the theme of the suppression of women. It's obvious that everyone is worried about Louise Mallard's reaction when she learns of her husband's death, but they don't know how happy she is to hear the news. She doesn't spend her time crying, but on the contrary, she finally feels free and this thought warms her body. Her husband loved her, but he showed her love by making all the decisions for her, which made her feel trapped and oppressed. She wanted to live for herself and chose how to live it. Her depression came not from sadness at learning of her husband's supposed death but from disappointment at learning that he was alive. Louise Mallard thirsted for free will and the eradication of this power which allows men and women to believe that we have the right to impose our own will on others. “What could love and mystery count for in the face of this possession of self-affirmation which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being! She was only free from her chains for a moment, then her reality crashed when her husband was revealed to be alive. She had realized that love was no substitute for possession or self-affirmation. She had felt that life would be long, but then hope was there for a while and was taken away, after learning of her husband's good health, Louise's heart stopped and her suffering finally ended . The hour-long story can also be viewed through the Marxist perspective, as social, political, and logical obstructions are created when one lacks power over one's life. The Marxist lens is represented by a brief sense of freedom felt by Mrs. Mallard when she learns that her husband has been killed in a railroad accident. However, her joy does not last long when her blissful meditation is put to death by her husband, who walks through the door alive and well. The Marxist view explains power not only within the government, but also over a small group of individuals like the wife and husband. The story indicates that "she saw beyond this bitter moment a long possession of years to come that would absolutely belong to her." (Chopin 20). The quote states that although she loved her husband, she felt held back and trapped in his life and was not sad to let him go. She had tasted the power of freedom, and when it was taken from her, she could not be sucked in and her heart finally gave up. Keep in mind: this is just one.