Saturday, August 23, 2008

How can Louise Mallard from "The Story of an Hour" show empathy for Jeremiah Anderson from "The Wisdom of Silence"?

In "The Story of an Hour," Louise is under the impression that her husband has died. She is initially consumed with grief. But this is temporary. She is then overcome with the joy of being free. Louise describes her new freedom very much like an emancipation: 



There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for 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. 



So, someone like Louise would certainly empathize and sympathize with someone who's been controlled by another person and then experiences freedom. Following the Emancipation Proclamation and the result of the Civil War, Jeremiah has become free. His previous owner, Samuel Brabant, tries to convince him to stay as a free worker. However, Jeremiah will not stay because his freedom and independence is much more important. Like Louise, he does not want to live for, or be dependent upon, someone else. 


Louise would probably also sympathize and understand Jeremiah's pride when he becomes independent and successful. Surely, she would also not begrudge him for bragging a bit about his success. Although Dunbar's story suggests a lesson in humility, some bragging should be understandable after a lifetime of servitude. Louise would understand this as well. 

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