The story of an hour begins by drawing the readers attention to Mrs. Mallard's heart condition and becoming aware that her husband is presumably deceased. When Mrs. Mallard's sister Josephine and friend Richards break the news to Mrs. Mallard, she begins to weep in her sisters arms. This makes the reader believe that she is heart broken and sadden to hear of his death, this however changes once Mrs. Mallard is left alone to grieve, so the reader thinks. 

While she is in her room, facing the open window, she seems terrified of some knowledge that is coming to her and she finally realizes it is her freedom. She said it over and over under her breath: "free, free, free!"(Chopin 169) She is looking for the days ahead instead of dreading them.
 While Mrs. Mallard is in her room, her sister Josephine is checking on her and telling her to open the door, Louise opens the door and walks down the stairs.

As Louise and Josephine start walking down the stairs, someone was opening the door with a latchkey, it was Brently Mallard. Even though Richards and Josephine try to protect Mrs. Mallard from the sight, they can't. She receives the shock they tried to prevent at the beginning of the story. Later Mrs. Mallard is examined and the doctor says that she was full of so much happiness it killed her.

Back in the 1800's marriages were arranged and the wife took care of all the household chores while the men were always away. Now a days, marriages are very different. The story really does not tell what features Mrs. Mallard was not happy with in her marriage. And yet she had loved him, sometimes, often she had not. (Chopin 170) This quotation tells the reader that she and Mr. Mallard had no real relationship behind their marriage, which leads to her happiness of freedom when she learns he is gone. I can exonerate Mrs. Mallard's behavior because no one truly knows what her marriage was like. She did not commit any crime, just expressed her feelings of being free and independent after the death of her husband.

I also feel some kind of compassion for Mr. Mallard. the story really does not express their difficulties within their marriage so Mr. Mallard could possible have the same relief once he learns that Mrs. Mallard has passed away.

Works Cited 

Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. Backpack Literature. Ed. X. J. Kennedy, Dana Gioia. 

     Pearson. 2012. 168-170. Print.