The Inoscence of Brently Mallard After reading “The Story of an Hour”, there seems to linger a feeling in the reader or readers of disgust, or even hatred towards the ‘man'. This is especially true for thosewho have read other popular works by Kate Chopin that also seem to subtly cast the malecharacter in a dim, evil, negative sort of light. So it is not inexcusable to assume that thereason Louise Mallard succumbed to such a sad end is because of her husband, causingoppression or abusing her. However, Louise Mallard is not a victim of oppression causedby her husband Brently. She is a victim of the victim of the oppression caused by marriagein the nineteenth century.Louise Mallard was not introduced as ‘Louise Mallard’. Unlike the other femaleJosephine who’s title remains unknown, her first name ‘Louise’ was not mentioned untilvery late in the story. Ironically, her first name was mentioned at the point where she feelsthat she is married no longer, when her sister Josephine, “Louise, open the door . . . Whatare you doing Louise?” (446). This non-recognition of her first name subtly hints to thetype of marriage she was in, or ultimately the way marriages were in that time. They werethe type of marriage in which the women were the homemakers and the men were thebreadwinners. The women had no real social life, that is, no life outside of the home. Itmay even be possible that she hardly left the house else her “white slender hands”(445)may have tanned a little and not have been so white. So Mrs. Mallard’s first name had noreal significance. She is merely Mrs. Mallard, the wife of Brently Mallard.It becomes apparent that Louise has found herself trapped inside of a seriouslybogus type of marriage. Not long after she finds out about her husbands unexpected death,she whispers the words, “Free, free, free”(445). This seems at first quite odd...
