“A Story of an Hour”. Continuation.

The protagonists of the story are: Mrs. Louise Mallard. She is introduced as being “afflicted with a heart trouble”, which is why great care is taken in telling her of her husband's death. It was also mentioned that: “pressed down by a physical exhaustion”, “quite motionless”, “She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength. But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky”. The narrator of “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin relates what she observes in simple prose, but when her emotions are described, the words are vibrant and powerful. This suggests that Louis has a deep inner-life that is not connected to the outside world of her husband or friends. We see that she was sick and tired of all her life, and after she her husband had died, she realized, she was hopeful, she was on the verge of a new free life and asked God to give her a long life. In spite of the fact, that women had less rights, that men had, she was repressed by her husband, and the author gives the slight hint on woman’s emancipation and becoming more free and respected in the society.

Mr. Brently Mallard is the husband of Louise Mallard. He was: “little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella”. It is clear that her husband loved her when his face is described as “the face that had never looked save with love upon her.” He is assumed dead until the end of the story, when it is revealed that the news of his death was a mistake, but there is still the mystery: why wasn’t he in the place where he must be and where he was?

Josephine is Louise' sister. Following Richards' advice, she tells Mrs. Mallard of her husband's death. She was very touching and caring about her sister: “Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhold, imploring for admission”.

Richards is Mr. Mallard's friend and is the first person to hear of Brently's supposed death. Richard was very tender and didn’t want to hurt Louise, so he: “to assure himself of its truth by a second telegram”, “hastened to forestall any less careful, less tender friend in bearing the sad message”.