This signifies the irresolute ending to her internal turmoil as Louis encounters the social constructs from which she had attempted to escape during her confinement in the locked room. This contrasts with the opened door at the story’s denouement, which symbolises Louise’s return to society. The locked room symbolises her assertion of her female individuality as she escapes the social institution of marriage to pursue her female identity. She almost recuperates from this physical affliction when confined in the locked room. Mallard’s death is impelled by her attempt to express her suppressed emotions by challenging the social institution of marriage. This progresses to death at the story’s conclusion and is induced when her husband physically triumphs over his alleged death to return healthy and wholesome to the story.

This is an inconclusiveness of her internal turmoil that is impelled by her attempt to express her formerly suppressed emotions.Ĭhopin introduces Louise Mallard as being physically afflicted “with a heart trouble” (1). Zorade’s rejection of the child at the story’s conclusion signifies her dismissal of her female individuality. Chopin uses symbolism to contrast the rags, which symbolise Zorade’s submission to social conformity, with Zorade’s child, who symbolizes her assertion of her female identity. Mzor’s physical displacement from Zorade encourages her to challenge the social constructs of gender. This mental instability results from Zorade’s decision to express her emotions and relieve herself of society’s oppression by pursuing her love for Mzor. This is symbolised by the “senseless bundle of rags. The physical maltreatment of slaves that Madame alludes to progresses to Zora de’s dementia at the story’s conclusion.

To illustrate, Chopin foreshadows physical exhibition of bodily ailment when, in dialogue with Zorade, Madame Delarivire states, “You deserve to have the lash laid upon you like any other slave” (36). Chopin employs the symbolism of bodily disease to demonstrate the effect of expressing formerly suppressed emotions.

By challenging the social constructs of gender, the protagonists’ attempts to relieve themselves of suppressed emotions are futile.

The Yearning by Kate Belle