If, in 2002, a young lady were told that her future and husband had been predetermined for her without her consent, she would most likely be very unhappy and probably try to escape the situation. Contrary to this, in the late 1800¡¯s, young ladies had to accept the fact that their marriage and future had been set in stone for them. In Kate Chopin¡¯s ¡°The Story of an Hour¡±, the main character, Mrs. Mallard, learns …showed first 75 words of 786 total…

…showed last 75 words of 786 total…death is excusable. Mrs. Mallard is trapped into an unloving marriage where her husband¡¯s private will is imposed upon her. The belief that Mr. Mallard was dead allows Mrs. Mallard to experience a newfound freedom that she had longed for. In a weird twist, Mrs. Mallard freedom is gained from her own passing. Perhaps Chopin is reinforcing that it is better to not live at all than to live in the oppressiveness of marriage.