Kate Chopin is known as a major feminist writer of the 19th century. She uses irony and symbolism to provide insight into the role of women in marriage and the female identity. In "The Story of an Hour", Chopin emphasizes the dark and almost enslaved status that women had in society in the late 1800s. Chopin's main character in this story, Mrs. Mallard, symbolizes all the women of that era and the choices and treatment they had to endure. A major indication of the repression suffered by our protagonist can be seen when we consider the identity of Mrs. Mallard. Chopin emphasizes the male-dominated society of this time at the beginning of the story by simply giving her the name "Mrs. Mallard". a first name from the beginning of the work, but Chopin does not let the reader know that the protagonist's name is Louise until much later in the story. Chopin does this to show that women lacked individuality and their own identity. is simply the wife of Brently Mallard; this alone shows that in 1894 women were treated as the property of their husbands.Physical condition and description...