The Story Of An Hour

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“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
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