"A Story of an Hour"- Realism

"She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves." The descriptive setting paints a picture in the reader's mind. It makes him or her feel like he or she is there in the scene.

"She arose at length and opened the door to her sister's importunities. There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory. She clasped her sister's waist, and together they descended the stairs." She's trying to get over her husband's death, so she gets up and makes herself strong. She leans on her sister for support. Through the details of Josphine's actions, the reader can picture and infer how the character really feels subconsiously.

"There would be no one to live for 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. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that brief moment of illumination." This is a social issue because she is living for herself, and doesn't need a man to support her. This social issue reflects on women's rights. There is no one around to tell her what to do or what to think.

In this story realism is shown by Chopin's use of description. It provides details so you don't have to use your imagination. She provides strong evidence which describes the details of how Josphine acts. There's also a strong picture of the setting and where she was.