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The Sort Of An Hour Literary Analysis

Decent Essays

In the short story, The Sort of an Hour, written by Kate Chopin, the main character, Louise Mallard, was given some horrible news. She was told that her husband, Brently, was killed in a train accident. At first, she began sobbing and weeping almost hysterically, until she goes up to her room alo8ne. She sat down in a chair by the window. Still sobbing, she looked out the window off into the distance and her heart began to race. Overwhelmed with emotion she starts whispering the word, “Free!” She loved her husband dearly and knew she would be desolate when she saw his dead body, but then began envisioning her future alone. She spread her arms with joy. She was filled with excitement thinking about her independence. She then rejoins her sister, Josephine, down the stairs. All of a sudden, Brently, her undead husband, opens the door. He had not been in the train accident and was completely unaware of its happening. Josephine screams and her husband, Richard, tries to block Louise from seeing him. But it was too late. The doctor came and pronounced her dead. Throughout this story, it is most obvious that it is written in third person omniscient. The narrator is …show more content…

Mallard appreciates her independence. As she whispers the words, "Free, free, free!" (235) her body rushes with joy and excitement. “Her pulse beats fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body” (235). Through all the sadness and sobs, she comes to realize that she doesn’t have to put up with anyone any longer and "all sort of days that would be her own" (235). She was the opportunity to be her own person and live her days her way. She had formerly dreaded the years ahead under her husband. But now, Mrs. Mallard is happier and looking forward to a bright and joyful future alone. However, her freedom is taken from her once when she sees her husband Brently still alive. Overwhelmed with devastation, he stops her racing heart from

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