The Story of an Hour

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin starts off directly with a piece of foreshadowing.  When it spoke of how "Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with heart trouble" (Chopin, 1), I knew that would play a role in some way later on in the story.  Mrs. Mallard's reaction to the news of her husband's death made sense to me at first, but then gradually shocked and surprised me.  Her initial reaction was grief; she locked herself in her room and cried in mourning.  Soon after, however, joy and elation built up inside of her.  It became clear that she had been part of a loveless marriage.  Perhaps he had abused her in some way?  She saw his death and permanent absence from her life as her own freedom.  She admitted that she had dreaded each coming day knowing that she would be with him, but now that he was dead, she could look forward to life.  There were clearly some major relationship issues here.  Her heart disease ultimately claimed her life when she received the shock and bitter disappointment that her husband was still very much alive.