Mrs Mallard's Death In The Story Of An Hour

Kate Chopin's the “Story of an Hour" is a story of an hour in the life of Mrs. Louise Mallard, a young woman was told her husband has died and in which brought her happiness and freedom rather than grief. In “The Story of an Hour,” the fact that Mrs. Mallard is “afflicted with a heart trouble” develops an ironic reality (par. 1). She felt emotionally displeased with her husband and in the marriage. Mr. Mallard loved his wife sincerely and was not aware of what his wife thought about their marriage. Even though Mrs. Mallard felt great sorrow for her husband death, her grief was incomparable to the overwhelming joy she felt from her newfound freedom.

She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance (par. 3). Most women shattered and are devastated with the news of their husband’s death. Mrs. Mallard’s reaction was unlikely different than what was expected by her sister Josephine. In most situations, the first stage is denial. Most women after hearing the new of their husband’s death do not believe anything like that even happen. In Mrs. Mallard’s situation, she did not even misbelieve the news or even question her sister. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms (par. 3). The tears

symbolized joy and freedom rather than grief. On one hand, Mrs. Mallard’s broken heart with the news of her husband and other hand, she realized she’s now free and does not need to be dependent on her husband anymore. Each drop of tear from Mrs. Mallard was sign of happiness and the release of memories of miserable times that she suffered in her marriage.
She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength (par. 8). Mrs. Mallard life turns upside down when she got married. She was hoping for more than just love from her husband. She felt disappointed and hopeless after she got married, but she could not do anything to get out of the marriage. Mr. Mallard loved his wife deeply and promised his wife that he would do anything for her. Still Mrs. Mallard was unhappy and the promise was not enough for her. 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 (par. 7). Her husband’s death was not a big deal for her after she realized that he does not need to continue living like she was. The tears that could not stop after hearing the news of husband’s death were suddenly disappeared after few moments Mrs. Mallard sat in her room. Instead, the tears of joy and sudden shock were shown on Mrs. Mallard’s face.
But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought (par. 8). There were no sign of depression, heartbroken or even a hint of sadness in Mrs. Mallard’s eyes; however, her eyes sparkled like fire in a cave. In Mrs. Mallard’s mind was filled with the thought of realization of a new life she has now and questioning herself what is going to happen to her. One thing that continuous repeated in her head was that now she’s a free, independent woman and can do whatever that pleases her. And yet she had loved him--sometimes. Often she had not (par. 13). Mrs. Mallard loved her husband, but not more, than her desire for freedom. Love in which interacts what Mrs. Mallard values the most her husband, or her freedom. The love from her husband was not enough than the love of being her own person.
"She said it over and over under her breath: "free, free, free!" The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body (par. 10). Instead of sobbing intensely as what was expected, Mrs. Mallard was relived that she was physically and mentally free from her husband. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome (par. 11) Mrs. Mallard was rebellious to grieve her husband's death and from the vows; she was relieved and finally happy.
There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself (par.

1). Mrs. Mallard had a realization of her identity and what she is without being committed to her husband; also known as quest for identity. The “Story of an hour” shows more than one theme that interplays throughout the story in various ways. The story though was ironic and shocking at the end how Mr. Mallard shows up alive. When her husband enters the home and she dies from the shock, her sister thinks she dies from happiness, from "joy that kills," but analyzing the story the result are different. She actually died from disappointment, from losing her freedom that she had just found for an

hour.