"The Cask of the Amontillado" (Poe)
             This story is a tale of revenge. Montresor, pledges revenge upon Fortunato for an insult. In support of Montresor's family motto, "No one assails me with impunity," Montresor sets Fortunato up to die slowly by leading him to his death with the promise of some wine. This was interesting because I didn't see it coming throughout the story. I liked how Poe brought the reader into the mind of a killer. This was very interesting.
             "The Story of an Hour" (Kate Chopin)
             This story is about an hour in the life of Mrs. Millard. She is afflicted with a heart problem. Bad news has come about her husband has died in a train accident. Mrs. Millard's sister Josephine, and her husband's friend, Richard break the bad news to her. She reacts to the news with excitement because she is finally free to live for herself only. Then Mr. Millard walks through the door that evening and says he was no where next to the accident and he's alright. Mrs. Millard collapses and dies from heart disease.
             This was somewhat of a depressing story. It makes me think about how people, specifically women, lived back then. The idea of being so happy because of your husband's death, and then dying yourself when you learn he's not dead is crazy. Very depressing to think about.
             "The Yellow Wallpaper" (Gilman)
             This story is about a woman diagnosed with some form of hysteria of which her husband, John, has prescribed total rest. She is slowly driven mad by the rest, and cut off from any intellectual pursuits whatsoever. She puts her mind to the yellow wallpaper that is in the room and eventually goes mad.
             I can certainly understand why this woman would go mad after being secured in a room for so long. It's too bad that medicine didn't recognize mental illness as a medical condition.
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