Summary
The short story describes the series of emotions Louise Mallard endures after hearing of the death of her husband, who was believed to have died in a railroad disaster. Mrs. Mallard suffers from heart problems; therefore, her sister attempts to inform her of the horrific news in a gentle way. Mrs. Mallard locks herself in her room to immediately mourn the loss of her husband. However, she begins to feel an unexpected sense of exhilaration. "Free! Body and soul free!" is what she believes is a benefit of his death. At the end of the story, she learns, when her husband returns home, that he was not involved in the railroad disaster. The shock of his appearance kills Mrs. Mallard. The reason his appearance is such a shock is left deliberately ambiguous.
Read more about this topic: The Story Of An Hour
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