Want this question answered?
At the end of "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, the protagonist Louise Mallard dies of a heart attack after discovering that her husband is still alive, despite initially feeling liberated by his reported death. The story ends with the revelation of this tragic twist.
In "The Story of an Hour," the first paragraph foreshadows the death of Louise Mallard's husband, Brently Mallard, as it is revealed that Louise has a heart condition and experiences a mix of conflicting emotions upon hearing the news of his passing.
Brently Mallard was the husband of the story's protagonist, Louise Mallard, in "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin. It is suggested that he had a job that required him to travel frequently, as Louise felt a sense of freedom and relief upon hearing of his supposed death.
Mrs. Mallard's sister is named Josephine. She is the one who breaks the news of her husband's death to her sister, Louise Mallard, in Kate Chopin's short story "The Story of an Hour."
The main character in "The Story of an Hour" is Mrs. Mallard, a woman who experiences a range of emotions upon hearing the news of her husband's death. Other characters in the story include Mr. Brently Mallard, Mrs. Mallard's husband, and Josephine, Mrs. Mallard's sister.
After learning of her husband's death, Louise Mallard is initially comforted by her sister and friend, who try to gently break the news to her. They treat her with care and concern, not wanting to upset her fragile condition. Later, when she experiences a range of emotions in response to her newfound freedom, others interpret her behavior as grief and excitement.
In "The Story of an Hour," Louise Mallard's husband is portrayed as controlling and oppressive, as Louise feels trapped in their marriage. This is justified by how Louise reacts to the news of his death, feeling a sense of liberation. Our judgments about him are influenced by the context of the story, which explores themes of independence, societal expectations, and the limitations imposed on women in marriage during the time period.
The first indication that Mrs. Mallard has had a change of heart about her husband's death is when she moves from shock and grief to a sense of freedom and possibility. Instead of feeling trapped by her husband's presence, she begins to feel liberated by the prospect of living for herself.
At the end of "The Story of an Hour," Mrs. Mallard receives news that her husband is alive, contradicting the earlier report of his death. Upon seeing him, Mrs. Mallard is initially shocked but then dies of a heart attack, realizing the freedom she felt in his supposed death is now lost.
Mrs. Mallard's antagonist in "The Story of an Hour" was societal expectations and norms that confined her freedom and individuality as a woman. The news of her husband's death initially brought her a sense of liberation from these constraints, but her realization that he was actually alive symbolized the return to her oppressive marriage and societal role.
The first indication to the reader that Mrs. Mallard has a change of heart about her husband's death is when she locks herself in her room and begins to feel a sense of freedom and relief instead of overwhelming grief. This moment signifies a shift in her perspective and sets the stage for her realization that her life can now be lived for herself.
Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her . . . the news of her husband's death."