Elements of setting in Kate Chopin's short story, "The Story of an Hour" Setting exists in all forms of fiction, representing elements of time, place and social context throughout the work. These elements can create particular moods, character qualities or characteristics of the theme. Throughout Kate Chopin's short story "The Story of an Hour," different levels and types of settings are revealed as the plot develops. This story deals with the emotional state of a young woman who discovers her own independence in the death of her husband, and then her "tragic" discovery that he is actually alive. The constituent elements of the setting reveal certain characteristics of the main character, Louise Mallard, and are functionally important to the structure of the story. The entire action takes place in the spring of a year in the 1890s, in a duration of about an hour, in a house owned by the Mallards. All of these aspects of the setting become extremely relevant and significant as the meaning of the story unfolds. When Louise Mallard first learned that her husband had been killed in a railway accident, "she immediately cried" and "went to her room alone." (12). As she cries, looking out the second story window of her house, a sudden change of mind begins to overtake her. She notices "the delicious breath of rain", "a peddler... mourning his wares", "the notes of a distant song", "countless sparrows... chirping" and "patches of blue sky", "all quiver of emotions.” the new spring life" (13). As she looks up at the sky, she begins to think about her new independence from her husband, uttering the words "free, free, free!" (13). What drives her to develop such a sudden change in attitude Could it be that she sees the rebirth of the world through her wind... middle of paper ... giving her limits and limitations? distinctive features of the situation. Addressing the reader's stereotypes and preconceptions about the time period or location in which the story takes place in order to bring out more meaning. In this work, Chopin develops the story by. tapping into the reader's knowledge and understanding of women's place in late 19th-century America. But the specific context—the time of year and the structure of the Mallard household—also provides clues. helping readers understand Louise and try to determine the cause of her death Louise may die of heart disease, as the doctors say at the end of the story, but the setting indicates that the disease was not. “the joy that kills” (14). Work cited Chopin, Kate. “The story of an hour.” Bedford's compact introduction to literature. 4th ed. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Saint Martin, 1997. 12-15.