“The Story of an Hour” describes th

“The Story of an Hour” describes the series of emotions Louise Mallard is feeling after
hearing of the death of her husband, who she believes has died in a railroad disaster.

“The Story of an Hour” follows Mrs. Louise Mallard and an hour of her life, during
which her husband has died in a railroad accident. Upon receiving the news, she seems to be
thrown into a downward spiral of emotions mourning for his death. As she falls deeper into
grief, little hints are revealed that her mourning is progressing into the joy of her freedom.

Great care was taken to tell Louise Mallard, who has a heart problem, of her
husband’s death, Brently Mallard, during a railroad disaster. It was her sister Josephine, with
Brently’s friend, Richards standing there for support, who gave Louise the news of her husband’s
death, she immediately started to weep. “She did not hear the story as many women have heard
the same, paralyzed inability to accept its significance.” (p. 15) Upon receiving the news, Louise
is thrown into a downward spiral of her emotions. “She wept at once, with sudden, wild
abandonment, in her sister’s arms.”(p. 15)

After she was done grieving in her sister arms, Louise went upstairs and locked herself in
her room and immediately began mourning the loss of husband. She went over to a
comfortable armchair and sank down into it. As Louise was sitting in her room, staring out the
window, she began to take in all the sights and sounds, and looking at fluffy white clouds in the
sky. She was a young woman with lines around her eyes. Louise felt different. She tries to
shake the feeling, but she realizes she is free and she lets a whisper “Free! Body and soul free!”.
(p. 16) Free from her husband’s imposing will, whether it be good or bad. She is free to live
her life for herself. Josephine had been pleading with Louise to come out of her room. Josephine
was sure Louise was making herself ill. Louise assured Josephine that she was not making
herself ill. After an hour, Louise came out of her bedroom. As Louise clasped her sister’s waist,
they went down the stairs together. Mrs. Mallard was feeling very good about herself. When
they reached the bottom of the stairs, the front door was opening, Brently Mallard was standing
there amazed at Josephine’s piercing cry. Richards’ quick motion to screen him from the view
of his wife was apparently too late. Louise had already seen her husband.

It was at that time that Louise’s hopes and desire of freedom were crushed by the sight of
her husband standing in the doorway. Louise Mallard passes away. The doctors knew it
was her heart that gave out, but they didn’t know exactly what killed her. They think it was from
“a joy that kills." (p 16