The Story of An Hour by Kate Chopin

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Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour", was set in the early 1900's. Mrs. Mallard, a lady with heart trouble, was carefully told that her husband was suddenly killed in a railroad disaster. Unexpectedly, her husband walks through the door safely but too late. Mrs. Mallard had already given up. These words could be used to described Mrs. Mallard: lonely, fat, stubborn, controlling, demanding, secretive, snobby, and desperate. All these are summed up in two words: mentally disturbed. The details of these words will be discussed in this essay.

The fact that Mrs. Mallard shuts the door behind her after hearing the news, that indicates that she has been shutting people out all of her life."When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She wanted no one to follow her" (11). Perhaps every time she he has a problem she shuts people out. On the other hand, I respect the fact that she may need time to herself but, most people need to be comforted at times like these. Usually, the closest person to them will be the comforter. In this case that close person would be her sister, and not even the sister could enter the room.

Being alone in a house for long periods of time can play games with people's mind, sight and emotions. This is the situation that Mrs. Mallard is in. "Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death" (10). Mrs. Mallard's mind may have tricked her to believe that she did have a heart condition, in reality she was healthy. She could have received pity and concern for others. This way someone would need to check on her periodically.

Mrs. Mallard takes advantage of people. Knowing that her feelings for her husband are not as strong as they were, she sits there quietly collecting his

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