"The Story of an Hour" was written by Kate Chopin, an American writer that was best known for her short stories following the lives of sensitive women, in 1894. "The Story of an Hour" is set in the late nineteenth century in the Mallard residence, the genre being considered that of "modern feminist literature." The story starts off by introducing Mrs. Mallard and the heart disease that she has. It is also revealed that her husband, Mr. Mallard, had been killed in what was to be a railroad disaster and because of her weak heart they wanted to break it to her gently. In "The Story of an Hour," Kate Chopin addresses the theme of death through the character Louise Mallard.
Anyone from the outside looking in would have thought Mrs. Mallard
…show more content…
Mallard's sister, and Richards, Mr. Mallards friend, weren't quite sure how to break the news of Mr. Mallard's death to his wife with the fear of her potentially dying from the news, due to her heart condition. Josephine breaks the news to her sister as gently as possible and Mrs. Mallard breaks out into tears and immediately goes upstairs to her room wanting to be alone. While upstairs in the room she stands looks out the window contemplating the news she found a not too long ago. After listening to all of the sounds of spring she realizes that she isn't really sad about her husband's death. "Free, free, free" is what she whispered once she noticed the type of joy she was feeling (Chopin 2). She feels as though even though she loved him, sometimes, she is now finally free from his "powerful will bending her in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a will upon a fellow-creature"(Chopin 2). Although it may seem as if Louise never cared for her husband in the first place, "his demise allows Louise freedom to breed her self-determination. She imagines how all the oncoming years would be reserved solely for her; she would take life into her own hands (Ahmetsphaic and Kahric