Grief in The Story of an Hour Essay

In The Story of an Hour, written by Kate Chopin; as Mrs. Mallard listened to the words spoken by her sister, Josephine, of her husbands death, [she] did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance.(193) She heard the words; she understood their meaning. But even in her pain, she knew this was her chance to be free from her marital burden of the times.

The news of the death of Brently Mallard was painful for Mrs. Mallard. She grieved, weeping in her sisters arms. She knew she would never again see her husband walk through the doors of their home. Exhausted by [the] storm of grief, Mrs. Mallard retired to her room, insisting neither Josephine nor Richards follow her. Once she removed herself from the company of Josephine and Richards and was in the solitude of her room, the tone of the story immediately changed. The story described [the] tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. (193) This description of the blooms of the trees shows how Mrs. Mallard may already be, on a subconscious level, comparing her life without her husband as the beginning of her new life. Several references are made to beautiful, calming images; [the] delicious breath of rain (193); the description of the blue skies showing between the clouds. Seeing these images may be helping to ease the pain Mrs. Mallard is feeling, and may be assisting her in her transition from grieving wife to something more. Although her heart is still grieving for the loss of her husband, there is a thought working its way into her mind. A thought she is uncertain of.

[She] felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air. (193) This thought or idea that she can feel coming to her makes her uncomfortable. She is not sure how to react to it or even what is was. But when it came to her, when she realized what it was, the thought was invigorating. She realized she was free. Not free from the love of her husband, because he did love her, she was sure of that. But free from the [powerful] will bending her in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will up on a fellow creature. (194) She knew she would now be able to live her life for herself. Not a life for her husband or for society. Mrs. Mallard did not question her thoughts of happiness and freedom. This feeling was not evil. She knew the love she had for her husband and knew she would again cry when she saw Brently Mallards dead body. But this was her time. She looked forward to days that were all hers, even [praying that life might be long.], a thought she dreading thinking before. Even Josephine hinted a new life was on the horizon for Mrs. Mallard. Worried that her sister would make herself ill dealing with the loss alone, she pleaded with her sister, Louise, open the door! (194). This is the one and only time she is called by her first name. Not Mrs. Mallard, the wife of Brently Mallard, but Louise, an individual.

With the pleading from her sister, Louise rose, ready to face a new world with [a feverish triumph in her eyes.] (194) But as she descended the stairs with Josephine, all joy she had felt in her room moments earlier faded as she watched her husband walk through the front door, unscathed and unaware of an accident. The story said [she had died of heart disease of a joy that kills.] Seeing Mrs. Mallard run through so many emotions in such a short period of time, it is possible for her to die of heart disease. . It was complete hopelessness that killed Mrs. Mallard. She was ecstatic to begin her new life, it explained that very well in the story. She had no guilt over the happiness for her freedom and she knew she had loved her husband. But the magnitude of the shock of seeing her husband walk through the door and realizing that she would no longer be able live a life of her own, devastated her. She would have to continue to live under his rule and societies laws. She gave up; she wanted no part of that life. Not any more.