In “The Story of an Hour”, Kate Chopin describes the emotions and feelings that Louise Mallard experiences as she learns of her husband’s supposed death. The author represents a negative view of marriage as she speaks of Mrs. Mallard’s joyful emotions while spending an hour in her room alone. The story suggests that the death of a loved one maybe a feeling of freedom rather than grief. Kate Chopin also uses characterization as she describes the different emotions that Mrs. Mallard experiences, although her husband’s death would cause her great pain when she hears the news, she feels a great sense of relief. When Mrs. Mallard is first told of her husband’s death, she experiences a sudden feeling of grief. “She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance” (Chopin, 160).
This quote demonstrates how Mrs. Mallard knew that she should grieve for her husband but she was also thinking of her newfound independence. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms” (Chopin, 160). Mrs. Mallard feels an abrupt hurt and betrayal as she heard the news without deep comprehension of what had happened and how it would change her life. “When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her” (Chopin, 160). The author suggests that Louis has a deep inner-life that is not connected to the outside world of her husband or friends and that she cloisters herself in her room to discover her feelings.
Louise’s experiences a sudden change of emotions once she goes into her room to comprehend the death of her husband. “There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. Into this she sank” (Chopin, 160). While Mrs. Mallard’s sits in comfort with her connection to the world, she thinks of her life and the wonderful opportunities to come. “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” (Chopin, 160).
The author indicates that Louise is beginning to get in touch with life and smell things that she didn’t use to smell at first. “There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one above the other in the west facing her window” (Chopin, 160). Chopin demonstrates Mrs. Mallard’s excitement growing as she looks into the blue sky which is symbolic for freedom. Mrs. Mallard’s realization of freedom is beginning to overwhelm her, while at the same time making her happy. She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength” (Chopin, 160). This quote indicates that Mrs. Mallard is weighed down from her experiences from her life and marriage . “There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully” (Chopin, 160). Chopin demonstrates how back in the 19th century, women were victims of marriage such as being a wife, and doing household duties, now that Mrs. Mallard has a chance to be free she is now afraid to accept it.
Chopin demonstrates how Mrs. Mallard becomes afraid to allow herself to be happy about her freedom. “She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will” (Chopin, 160). This quote explains how Mrs. Mallard is a “product” of her time and has to be dependent on society rules. She realizes that society would determine her thoughts of freedom inappropriately, but she can’t stop herself from feeling that way. A peace of mind is necessary for a human being and is more important than society standards.
Chopin shows how Mrs. Mallard has started to accept the life that is about to come her way. “When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under breath: “free, free, free! ” (Chopin, 160). Mrs. Mallard felt oppressed in her marriage and now, for the first time ever, she feels the possibility of constructing her own identity and identifying possibilities for her own future. “Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body” (Chopin, 160).
Mrs. Mallard shows the anticipation of the possibility of finally being able to live for herself, rather than for or in relation to her husband. The author opens up to give Mrs. Mallard’s actual feelings about her husband’s death. “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” (Chopin, 160). This quote demonstrates how Mrs. Mallard was unhappy and she felt that she can finally have her own opinion; she feels that she can be free. She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long” (Chopin, 161). Chopin suggests how Mrs. Mallard feels that life with her husband was long and miserable.
“Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered” Chopin, 161). Mrs. Mallard was shocked that her husband came through door when she was told that he had been killed. “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy that kills” (Chopin, 161). The author demonstrates how Mrs. Mallard had gotten so excited about her new life when seeing her husband she had a heart attack and died. Thus, Mrs. Mallard’s different emotions regarding Brently Mallard’s death explains the pain and happiness she experienced from their marriage. She was confined to a marriage with no freedom or opinion of her own; therefore she was afraid but happy to finally anticipate a life of her own. Therefore, when Louise starts to accept her freedom, her husband comes through the door. Finally, she dies from a heart attack because the weight of her husband was back.
