Fiction is a mirror that reflects and refracts the human experience, forcing readers to

explore the depths of societal norms within established structures. Writers and authors

craft stories that deepen our understanding of the life-changing themes while

entertaining us using the fantasy world. In this exploration , we will explore the themes

shared by the short stories ‘No Bikini by Evan Coyote and The story of an hour by Kate

Chopin. Both the stories aim to unravel how they over come the challenges the

protagonists faced while navigation through societal norms and freedom.

Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" provides in-depth scrutny into the theme of

societal constraints on women in the late 19th century. The protagonist, Louise Mallard,

initially reacts to the news of her husband's death with grief, only for her to realize her

suppressed desire for freedom and escape from her marriage and societal

expectations. The short story initially starts with the devasting news of her husband's

death and the strong feeling of wild abandonment in her sister's arms. however, as she

spends some time in her room alone, she begins to feel a sense of liberation and

freedom mixed with terror and emptiness: The line "She said it over and over under her

breath: "free, free, free!" depicts the intensity and significance of this realization. The

fact that she mutters it "under her breadth" conveys the message that these feelings are

e, emerging gradually and perhaps even subconsciously. This moment captures

Louise's internal conflict as she mourns the loss of her husband and acknoowledges

newfound freedom on the other. This internal struggle sets the stage for the unexpected

turn of events in the story, where Louise's perception of freedom becomes a central

theme. " Indeed the moment Mrs. Mallard feels it more important to be an individual

than to be a woman (or at least a mother-woman), but she is in deep water." This
represents the reliazation that she can escape the confines of a patriachal marriage and

not conform to the tradiotnal grieving process. She realizes that being herself is more

important than being someone you are not for somebody you love. She is a clear

example of the saying" You have to learn to love yourself first in order to love someone

else". She is expected to grieve and live within the societal rules for women. As the

story grows, she comes to realize that her husband is indeed alive; this twist in the plot

amplifies the impact of the theme, making the reader reflect on the complexities of

personal freedom in the face of societal expectations.

"No Bikini" by Evan Coyote confronts the theme of societal expectations and gender

identity. The narrative centers around a protagonist assigned female at birth who

grapples with the constraints imposed by traditional gender norms. The character's

journey towards self-discovery and acceptance challenges the reader to question

established societal expectations.

The story revovles around a summer when six years old Evan coyote spent all summer

swimming without any top, with naked chest and feeling their true self instead of

covering up their body and identity. As the story delves into the most interesting part, it

conveys an inronic message of how nobody notices evan sliding out of their bikini top

stating how people are scared of the societal norms that they repress their true feelings

for people who could not care less for what you do. Evan said, "How could I explain to

her that it wasnt what I had done, but what I didn't do? That I hadn't lied, because no

one had asked?" depicts how he wasn't afraid of being who he is, breaking all the

norms that the society creates for being born certain way even if you do not feel that
way. Evan Coyote's plot structure reinforces the theme of freedom by tracing the

protagonist's journey of self-discovery.

The main characters in both the stories significantly contribute to the exploration of the

themes. Mallard undergoes a big transformation, from grief to a moment of self-

discovery and sense of freedom. As for “No Bikini” , Coyote struggles, wins and

moments of self realization and self-discovery contribute significantly to the theme of

freedom.