At the beginning of The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, Mrs. Mallard is notified by her sister Josephine and her husband’s friend, Richards, that Mr. Brentley Mallard, her husband has been killed in a train accident. She takes the news as anyone would, with tears, but as the story progresses and Mrs. Mallard isolates herself from prying eyes, she discovers joy at the thought of a long life lived beyond the reach of her doting, yet oppressive husband. Her triumphant self-possession is defeated, however, when she sees her husband is actually alive causing her death. Mrs. Mallard’s transformation from a repressed, sickly wife to a free, independent woman is caused by the realization that her marriage and her husband will no longer dictate her…