Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” Is an epic story of a sickly woman’s love-hate relationship with her husband. Learning of her husband’s demise, Louise Mallard took the news rather unaffected. Unlike a widow who had been happily married she shows relief and excitement for the idea that her life might now last a long time. She utters “free, free, free!” and when she came out of her room she carried herself like a goddess of victory. Although the mention of her loving him-sometimes, cannot go unnoticed. Finally, when she realizes that her husband is not dead, and was in fact far from the accident site, her heart gives out and Mrs. Mallards meets her fate.
Being “stuck” in an unhappy relationship, be it marriage, dating, friendly or among colleagues can take a serious toll on the health of an individual. Written in 1891 where divorce was not only frowned upon but practically non-existent, once a couple weds it would have had to have been “till death, do they part”. Finally gaining her freedom with the news that she is finally a widow and is no longer trapped in an unhappy union, we can conclude that when she sees him again she literally dies of disappointment. The doctors assumption that she passed from heart disease – of joy that kills was quite the opposite, misery that kills.
It is mind blowing to think that marriage at that point in time literally meant "until death, do they apart" i can not imagine being forced to stay with someone who clearly causes such misery and anxiety. I think you are completely right when you say it is not joy that killed her but misery. It is a very important distinction to make regarding this story because it changes the whole meaning of this woman's existence and departure.
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