In this short story, "The Story of an Hour," we are told that Louise Mallard has a heart disease and must be carefully informed of the death of her husband, who presumably died in a railroad disaster. The news is then transmitted to her through her sister, Josephine. Louise's reaction to the news at first is like any other widowed woman; she wept at once in her sister's arms. Later on, she goes upstairs to be alone in her room. In her room, she stares out the window to the new spring life of trees and blue sky. She is still crying when a sudden feeling of relief struck her. She begins repeating the word "free" to herself over and over again. In contrary to her first reaction there is a new feeling of relief, independence and freedom. She still loved her dead husband and knew she'd cry at the sight of his dead body but she still felt happy of his death. Meanwhile downstairs, a man happens to walk in and to their surprise it was her husband, Brently. He didn't even know of the accident. At the same time Mrs. Mallard walks downstairs and finds her husband standing there. She then collapses and dies of surprise which is confirmed by the doctor as a heart attack brought on by joy. The setting of the short story takes place in Mrs. Mallard's home, her bedroom and also her head. We get the idea that they are in America as Louise looks toward the West while she is in her room. In America, the West is signified as a place with new opportunities. The mention of "telegrams  and "railroad disasters  gives us the idea that the story could have been somewhere between the 19th and 20th century. Also the fact that Mrs. Mallard doesn't simply divorce her husband even though she is oppressed in their marriage tells us that the story does not take place in the modern world. The main character and protagonist is Mrs. Mallard. In the beginning of the story we get knowledge of her heart disease and that she is of good health and young. She is also portr