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Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

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“Story of an Hour,” a short fiction about a married woman named Louise Mallard, who received disturbing news about her spouse dying in a train accident. Louise’s sister Josephine was very hesitant about informing her about the tragic situation that has occurred. She was more afraid to tell Louise because of her heart condition. Therefore, Josephine tries to break the news to her gently about the death of her husband. Louise mallard immediately “wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment” (Chopin, 128). She went to her bedroom where she stood worried by an open window, symbolically meaning that things are about to open up to her. She starts to say “Free, Free, Free” (Chopin, 129) under her breath as if she will now live for herself and not for him.
Mrs. Mallard’s family friend and sister were skeptical about delivering this tragic news to her due to her heart condition. Once telling her the news she then returned downstairs where she experiences another shock and disappointment that her husband is not dead. He walked steadily through the front door; ironically, she falls to the floor dead herself. “She had died of heart disease of joy that kills” (Chopin, 129). The author Kate Chopin is trying to show how Mrs. Mallard was …show more content…
The husband was the head of the household, which leaves the wife to live in the shadow of him. Mrs. Mallard repeatedly whispered “Free! Body and soul free!” (Chopin, 129) because she will no longer be controlled by the forbearing society Mr. Mallard represents. This also shows how her new independence is valuable to her. Brently Mallard enters through the front door, Mrs. Mallard is “heart trouble” reappears and this leads to her death. Louise does not die of joy, but actually from the loss of joy. The death of Brently gave her a glimpse of a new life, and when that new life is expeditiously taken away, the shock and disappointment kill

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