Abstract: The Story of An Hour, an early feminist work written by Kate Chopin, is about a woman who experienced in an hour sharp emotional changes caused by the news of her husband’s death and finally died on seeing her husband coming back alive. This paper mainly analyzes the procedure of Mrs. Mallard’s pursuing freedom in her inner world and the causes of her tragedy. From the vague consciousness of freedom to the decision of freeing herself from her original life condition and living a free life, her struggles against social conventions finally claim her life as the cost. This is not only the tragedy of Mrs. Mallard but also the straits women experienced in seeking their self-identity in the man-centered United States in the late 19th century.

Key words: The Story of An Hour, Kate Chopin, freedom, elegy

摘要：《一小时的故事》是凯特·肖邦一部体现女权主义思想的作品，它细腻地刻画了女主人公在一小时内经历的情感起伏以及最终的死亡。本文主要剖析了马拉德太太追寻自由的过程和她的悲剧的成因。从对自由的朦胧意识到为了把握自由挣脱自己原来的生活状态，她反抗传统社会规范的斗争却让她付出了生命的代价。这不仅是马拉德太太个人的悲剧，更是再现十九世纪末在男性中心权力话语的美国社会中追求自我的女性们的困境。

关键词：《一小时的故事》；凯特·肖邦；自由；悲歌