The Innocence of Brently Mallard in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

     The background of the story gives us the idea of what Mrs. Mallard’s marriage meant to her. We see a picture of a young well-to-do wife who seems to be very pleased with her life. We also get the impression that she was deeply in love with her husband.

She can go back to her husband and children or she can live a life of solitude like

Mrs. Mallard is a woman that is suffering in marriage. We realize that she was not very optimistic about her married life. The night prior to the "death" of her husband, she had quietly prayed for her life to be short. She had reached a point of disillusionment and would gladly welcome death as an option out of the marriage. When she learns that her husband had perished in the train accident, she first reacts by

Although some people react dramatically when facing a situation, after reflecting on their initial reactions, their previous emotions may be affected by a previously unknown feeling of freedom. In Kate Chopin’s short story, “The Story of an Hour”, the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard, receives some sad news. Initially, Mrs. Mallard reacts with great sadness over the news of her husband’s death. As the story progresses, Mrs. Mallard begins to reflect on her previous emotions alone and begins to develop her true emotions towards her husband’s death. Finally, Mrs. Mallard realizes that the wonderful feelings of individual freedom overpower her feelings of sadness. Therefore, although Mrs. Mallard reacts with sadness over the death of her husband, Brently, after reflecting on her previous emotions, she discovers that the feelings of individual freedom overtake the relationship with her husband.

Whatever side one picks on the character of Mrs. Mallard, it is hard to overlook her tragic ending. Some might disagree with the doctor’s opinion in the end of the story in that she died from “a joy that kills” (CITE). It could be quite the opposite, they might say she died in despair at the idea of her newly found freedom being taken

Cunningham’s belief on how the story ended varies from many other critic’s opinions. He points out how a great amount of readers believe the death of Mrs. Mallard was caused by her seeing Mr. Mallard walk through the door of their house, after receiving the news of his death in a train accident (par. 1). However, Cunningham states he does not believe Louise Mallard even saw Brently Mallard at all, and the cause of death was not from the shock of seeing him. In fact, he claims, “I believe that Louise does not see him… cause of her death lies elsewhere: in the joy… more ‘monstrous’ than Louise seems

on Mr. Mallard's death, thus one would not have occurred without the other. The fact that Louise on her own indicates the bending of her will to her husband's

At the end of the story, when Mr. Mallard enters his house, Josephine and Mrs. Mallard respond very distinctly. Josephine

It was not typical in the time period of the story, nor is it now, for the sister of a bride to live with her and her husband in their home. Her presence is not at all crucial to the progression of the plot, and she has no significant impact on the substance of the story, the feelings and rebirth of Louise Mallard, which comprises the majority of the story’s text.

In "The story of an Hour," Kate Chopin reveals the complex character, Mrs. Mallard, In a most unusual manner. THe reader is led to believe that her husband has been killed in a railway accident. The other characters in the story are worried about how to break the news to her; they know whe suffers from a heart condition, and they fear for her health. On the surface, the story appears to be about how Mrs. Mallard deals with the news of the death of her husband. On a deeper level, however, the story is about the feeling of intense joy that Mrs. Mallard experiences when she realizes that she is free from the influences of her husband and the consequences of

In “The Story of an Hour” we are taken through a journey. The journey is the thoughts and emotions going through Mrs. Mallards (Louise) mind. The journey only takes an hour, so everything moves at a fast pace. Louise seemed to process the news of her husband’s death without an initial element of disbelief and shock. She goes right into the reaction of grieving for her husband. She quickly begins to feel other emotions. At first she does not understand them. The journey is a way that Louise comes to her final thoughts of freedom. She looks into the future and looks forward to living a long life on her own terms.

I agree how you said that Mrs. Mallard was doing a lot better without her husband. The doctors were wrong when they said she died from the joy of seeing him alive.

Reaction to the Character of Mrs. Mallard in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

limitations. Back then, a woman’s sole purpose was to get married and to care for her husband

when she hears of her husband’s death. Although she is not stuck as many women would have