Mrs. Mallards Death

When a woman hears the terrible news of her husband's death, one would think that the woman would be devastated and lost as to how to live the rest of her life. In The Story of an Hour, this is exactly what the reader presumes will happen to Mrs. Mallard. On the contrary, Mrs. Mallard turns a unfortunate situation into a joyous one.

When Mrs. Mallard went to her room, her reaction was just like any other widow's. At first she was upset, and physically and emotionally exhausted. But then thoughts started creeping into her mind that allowed her to see the newly found freedom that she had gained. She was young and beautiful with a whole life in front of her. "There would be no powerful will bending hers..." (863). There would be no man telling her what to do and when to do it.

"There would be no one to live for her during the coming years: She would live for herself." (863). She would cook whenever she would be hungry without worrying what her husband would want. She would not have to worry about cleaning the house if she did not feel up to it. Mrs. Mallard would be able to invite friends over without asking her husband's permission first. She could sleep in late and not worry about waking up early to make her husband breakfast. She owned the land, the house, and other possessions that once belonged to her husband. She was left to do what she pleased with them.

Although her husband was worthy of her love at times, she mentioned in the text that she did not love him at other times. This could mean that Mr. Mallard was abusive or hard-headed when it came to the opinions of women. Therefore, Mrs. Mallard felt like a prisoner in her own home. Now that Mr. Mallard was gone, she did not have to be afraid of voicing her opinions or being hurt for saying things that she believed in.

"What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which

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