The Story of An Hour
Per Sparknotes.com, “Louise Mallard has heart troubles, so she must be informed carefully about her husband’s death.” The newspaper has a list of those killed in a railroad disaster and it includes Louise’s husband Brently. Louise begins sobbing and goes upstairs to be alone in her room and looks out the open window. “She sees trees, smells approaching rain, … hears someone singing as well as the sounds of sparrows, and there are fluffy white clouds in the sky. She is young, with lines around her eyes. Still crying, she gazes into the distance. She feels apprehensive and tries to suppress the building emotions within her but can’t. She begins repeating the word FREE! to herself over and over again. Her heart beats quickly, and she feels very warm.”
“Louise knows she’ll cry again when she sees Brently’s corpse. His hands were tender, and he always looked at her lovingly. But then she imagines the years ahead, which belong only to her now, and spreads her arms out joyfully with anticipation. She will be free, on her own without anyone to oppress her… She feels ecstatic with her newfound sense of independence… She feels ecstatic with her newfound sense of independence.”
“The front door unexpectantly opens, and Brently comes in. He hadn’t been in the train accident or even aware that one had happened…. Doctor arrived and pronounced that Louise died of a heart attack brought on by happiness.”
Please read the opening paragraphs again and let the story sink in. Got it? As you likely know, this is a Kate Chopin 1894 short story titled The Story of an Hour that was published in Vogue.
The question: How did she die? Go a little deeper – For How did she die?
The story starts noting that Louise has heart troubles – so that the obvious answer is heart attack, and that is confirmed by the doctor. Ok – but why – why the heart attack? Is it happiness in knowing that her husband is alive or ????
I am going to leave this blog right here and let you contemplate this story and any potential relevance to your life. I am very curious to hear your thoughts regarding this story and if it touches you and possibly troubles you.