“The Story Of An Hour”: Louise Mallard As A Sympathetic Figure

Part I of Essay
Kate Chopin’s, “The Story of an Hour” is about a woman who is devastated when she first hears of her husband’s death, but shortly thereafter is filled with happiness. Many readers may think of the main character, Mrs. Louise Mallard, as a cold, unfeeling woman. However, ....

Part II of Essay
.... Mrs. Mallard seems almost grateful for his death and the chance to be free from her husband and marriage. One can say this is another reason why she should not be considered a sympathetic figure. But in fact those are the few signs that indicate Mrs. Mallard is completely without compassion. However, there is much more evidence in the story to suggest Mrs. Mallard should be viewed as a favorable character. The author states that after Mrs. Mallard was told of her husband’s death, “She wept at once, with a sudden, wild abandonment, in her s ....