In The Story of an Hour, the main character, Mrs. Mallard, is given terrible news as she learns her husband has died in a train accident, to which she reacts in an unexpected way; instead of being heartbroken she feels free and as if she has been born again, which is contrary to what any woman would feel were they in her position. The author of the story, Kate Chopin, takes the reader from one end to another when she gives hints on the protagonist's feelings before and after her husband's death, making the clearly identifiable statement that marriage is like a prison that oppresses women. Though Chopin never states this directly, she implies it when describing Mrs. Mallard and her behaviour, as well as when depicting the setting.

When describing Mrs. Mallard, Chopin reveals the way in which that character felt before and after her husband's death...