Paper Topic:

`THE STORY OF AN HOUR`by Kate Chopin

Running Head : The Story of an Hour

Summary and Reflection of Kate Chopin

The Story of an Hour

Summary and Reflection of Kate Chopin 's

The Story of an Hour

Kate Chopin 's The Story of an Hour ' gives an ironic perspective about the death of a loved one as a second chance in life for those who are left behind for a better life

The story begins with bad news . A man named Richards discovers the horrible news that his friend , Brently Mallard , is one of the people killed

in a train accident that had just occurred . Knowing that his friend 's wife had a heart condition , Richards knew that the news must be broken to her in a very delicate manner . The news of the accident was delivered to Mrs . Mallard by her sister , Josephine

Upon hearing the news , Mrs . Louise Mallard broke down , collapsing into her sister 's arms . She then retreated to her room , stressing that she needed time on her own and refused anyone to accompany her

When Louise reached the room , she sat down on a chair and stared aimlessly out the window . At first , she felt physically and emotionally exhausted . Then , another feeling began to come over her . She began to feel a sense of joy in spite of the news , realizing that she was now free to live her life the way as how she wanted to . She knew that she is expected to grieve for her loss , and that she would need to conceal this blissful feeling she had inside her . She did not mind because after she buries her husband , she can begin a new life for herself

All the time that Louise stayed in her room , her sister Josephine pleaded for her to come out of the room , believing that something might happen to Louise because of her heart condition . Louise assured her that there is nothing for her to be worried about . Gathering her composure , Louise emerged from the room and began to go down the stairs with her sister holding her by the waist in an effort to help her in her descent

Just then , the door to the house opened . It was Brently Mallard . The news was a mistake . He did not die in the accident . In fact , he was not even near the scene of the accident . Richards tried to shield Brently Mallard from his wife 's view , but it was too late . Louise Mallard had died of a heart disease , which the doctors concluded was a result of the overwhelming joy that her husband was alive

At the beginning of the story , the reader would get the impression that it was the sad story of a woman , although physically weak because of her health condition , was happily married to her husband since she did not take the news as how other women would have , that is , denying that the news is wrong . Instead , she wept at once , with sudden , wild abandonment , in her sister...

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