One of the most interesting parts of the “The Story of an Hour” (1894) by Kate Chopin is based on Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to the death of her husband. When Mrs. Mallard is informed of the death of her husband in a train crash, she is sad at first but immediately starts contemplating her new found life and freedom. The mourners are careful in breaking the news to her, but although she takes the news with sadness, she retreats to her room and contemplates her freedom. This is short-lived as she dies of a heart attack when she finds out that her husband was not involved in the accident, and he is still alive. Although Mrs. Ballard may have behaved beyond the expectations of a mourning person at the time, her reaction is justified.

First, this is justified because she felt free for the first time in her life. One of the reasons why Mrs. Mallard felt free is because she was finally in a position to decide for herself. Although there was no evidence that her husband was abusive, she might have been tired of living under the control of her husband, and she finally realized that she was free. Not that she did not love him, but because she felt obligated to live under his control. Mrs. Mallard felt like a bird freed from a cage and flapping the wings when the cage door opened. What Mrs. Ballard experienced is what most people in an oppressive situation would have experienced even at that time once there was a window out of a stressful situation.

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Sample MLA Persuasive Essay