Death Of Mrs. Mallard in The Story of an Hour Essay

Death of Mrs. Mallard

The Story of an Hour is a short story written by Kate Chopin at the turn of the nineteenth century. Ms Chopin was known for her feminist voice. The era during which she produced most of her writings was an era of industrial revolution during which new thoughts, ideas and changes emerged. In that story, Chopin leaves the death of Mrs. Mallard a mystery open to interpretation by readers. Analysis of the story in question may seem unusual and perhaps a bit different from one might expect. Mrs. Mallard was a victim of her husbands, her sister Josephine and Richardss conspiracy plan.

First of all, Mrs. Mallard was a sacrifice of her husbands mischievous plan to get rid of his wife. The introductory statement in the story that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble and the last line stating that ...she had died of heart disease made wonder. Is this supposed to be a hint from Kate Chopin? All of the sadden The Story of an Hour begin to look at in a different way. Mr. Mallard knowing of his wifes heart condition staged his death hoping she would die when she sees him alive after the news of his death surfaces. He wanted his wife dead and the reason for it was that he was unhappy in the marriage and secretly having an affair with Josephine. When we read about relief free, free, free she feels about being widow, it is obviously he was making her life miserable. He was hoping some day she will be depressed and she will died from those hard dieses, but that would take too long. So, he came up with the plan involving his friend Mr. Richards and Mrs. Mallards sister Josephine.

Secondly, Ms Mallards sister Josephine had an affair with Mr. Mallard and she was in on the plan. That secret romance and a plot is the fact that the person who delivered the news to Mrs. Mallards was her sister. Josephine was in control of information and it clearly made her to hold a strong position. She was already close to her sister and she knew that Mrs. Mallard was unhappy in her marriage. She also knew about her weak heart. She delivered the news in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing . When Mrs. Mallard closed herself in the bedroom Josephine was kneeling before the closed door to ensure that everything is going according to planed. Josephine loved her sister and despite the fact she wanted her out of the picture she was clearly concerned about her. Therefore she needed an accomplice to deliver the news.

Finally, Richards, Mr. Mallards friend was taking active role in the plot to get Mrs. Mallard dead. He was involved in the whole thing and he had no problem delivering the news in the manner less careful, less tender friend in bearing the sad message. Richards was trying to kill her by exposing her to shock. He was a professional who knew how to conceal the facts. Furthermore, this is the reason why he was made part of the plan. When Brently Mallard entered home the author said at Richards quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife, which means he tried but not effectively enough. It was all pretend because on the end she saw his husband. Also how strange was that Richards, without any conformation they found the body, delivered the news about Mr. Mallards death.

Kate Chopin in The Story of an Hour wanted to show a tragic history of Mr. Mallard death. She was a victim of her husband, her sister Josephine and Richard scheme plan. Even if she did not make her husband happy, she did not deserve for that kind of death. She would never

expected that the worst could come from her closest family and people she loved. The whole plan was evil and unfair for Mrs. Mallard.