The Joy of Liberation; The Joy That Kills
Chopin uses symbolism and imagery to make her point that marriage can be a confining relationship. The author expresses this theme when Mrs. Mallard is sitting in her chair after she finds out the horrible news of the death of her husband. While sitting in the chair Mrs. Mallard says to 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” (Chopin 13). Chopin shows by this quote that marriage itself is not necessarily a bad thing, but that during marriage the way a husband and wife fit themselves into the marriage, instead of being the individuals they used to be, can be a problem. Chopin uses symbolism when Mrs. Mallard is sitting in front of the window. After Mrs. Mallard finds out about the horrible news of the death of her husband, one would suppose that something horrible is going to happen as she goes into her room and closes the door.