A woman that lived a hundred years ago did not feel free because women felt that they were not able to do what they wanted to, since their family duties took too much of their time. Kate Chopin's short story, "The Story of an Hour," deals with the life of a woman, Louise Mallard, who is living a life controlled by her husband through marriage. She has only a life that had only one purpose, to serve her husband, which, in turn, leaves her no freedom. However, Louise gets a small taste of freedom when she learns of her husband's death. It is a small taste of freedom because she was mistaken about his death. She realizes this fact when she sees her husband alive, which abruptly ends her heart-troubled life. Kate Chopin's short story, "Story of an Hour," is brief in length but packed with irony, symbols, and tone that contribute richly to ones understanding of what happens internally to Mrs. Mallard, the principal character.
             The first irony detected is in the way that Louise reacts to the news of the death of her husband, Brently Mallard. Before Louise's reaction is exposed, Chopin alludes to how the widow feels by describing the world according to her perception of it after the "horrible" news. Louise is said to "not hear the story as many women have heard the same." (10) Rather, she accepts it and goes to her room to be alone. Now the reader starts to see the world through Louise's eyes, a world full of new and pure life. In her room, Louise sinks into a comfortable chair and looks out of her window. Immediately the image of comfort seems to strike an odd note. One reading this story should question the use of the word "comfortable" and why Louise is not beating the furniture instead. The irony continues, though, because the doctors say she dies of joy, when the reader knows that she actually dies because she had a glimpse of freedom and could not go back to l...