Marriage is now recognized as a legal union of two people as partners in a relationship. Men and women marry for multiple reasons, ranging from skin color to economic stability or actual love. In the 1800s the majority of marriages were undergone for social or economic convenience, the marriages for this purpose were often arranged by the parents of the couple. Love was never required whenever other interests were involved. Nowadays (in most places) marriage isn't just about money or social status, to be with someone for the rest of your life you get to make a choice, a choice women didn't used to have a right to. As part of a conservative society, women were taught to please men and not care about anything men did after they eloped. .
Back then, men were the only ones with a voice to make decisions. As male figures they were seen as the ones who had to be in charge because women were "incapable" of making decisions without a man's help. Kate Chopin addresses these ideas and attitudes about marriage in her stories, the majority of which point out the lack of freedom in women and how marriage made them submissive. Once a woman got married, she could not continue to work outside of the house, now her job consisted of taking care of the home, husband, and possible future children. When they did have children, her responsibility was to raise and educate them. If they were girls they were taught how to cook and clean, and if they were boys they were taught to work outside and be the "man of the house". Today wives can choose whatever field they wish to work in, additionally, they have full right to an education and are expected to receive one. .
The Story of an Hour reflects how deeply the oppression of women in marriage went. It went so deep, that the only way for them to obtain freedom was through their husbands' death. In modern day society woman have achieved a great level of independence as individuals.