How Does Louise Mallard Change Throughout The Story Of An Hour

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“The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” By Michel de Montaigne. This quote explains the idea of belonging to oneself and no one else. This is the same as being independent. Just like in the fictional short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin (1894). Within the time span of one hour, Louise Mallard changes drastically. Louise is afflicted with heart trouble and had to be told gently about dreadful news. Mrs. Mallard is informed that her husband died. As soon as she heard this information, Louise began to grieve. However, this did not last very long. Mrs. Mallard the locked herself in her room and faced an open window. Staring out the window made her think further more about the situation she was currently …show more content…

Louise just sits in her armchair, alone. She had all of the time she wanted to think about what was happening and how she felt about it. Inside her room, “She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless, except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her, as a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams.” (7). So, as you can see, Louise still feels sorrow. At this point, Louise had nothing to do but stare out of the window that she was facing. She began to gaze far off yonder. “It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought.” (8). In this case, Louise is looking out of this window just thinking. Her depression and grief are now starting to get pushed aside. As she was sitting there, something hit Louise. “There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully.” (9). Now, Louise’s feelings are uncertain. She feels as if something is coming to her. She feels fearful and confused of what's to …show more content…

She had went from depressed, to fearful and uncertain. Louise thought something was approaching her. She then figures out what it was. “She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will- as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been.” (10). This is showing how she started to change emotionally. Meaning her emotions were all twisted up from just staring and thinking. As time passed, Louise began to think that Bentley's death may not be so bad after all. She thought to herself, “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.” (13). This scene particularly shows that Louise is starting to see the bright end of this disaster. She would be free of her marriage. Now, she would be on her own. “And yet she had loved him- sometimes. Often she had not.” (14). Louise did not love him the way that a married couple should. She did not seem like she was happy in her marriage anyway. His death now allows Louise to be on her own. “‘Free! Body and soul free!’ she kept whispering.” (15). This is what Louise told herself after she had finally figured out how she felt. Louise happy and almost excited to live the rest of her “long life” taking care of

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