The Story Of An Hour-character Analysis

4 Pages 914 Words

Is Richards more than a concerned friend?
In Chopin’s “Story of an Hour” I have decided to analyze Richards and Mrs. Mallard. I believe that the story may have led the reader to assume there might be a relationship between them. Although I may not be able to prove this I feel that can raise certain questions that might arouse suspicion. I feel that there is more of a relationship than a friendship between the two.
When Richrds heard the news of Bently Mallard’s death, he double-checked the telegram. Was this to ensure himself it was true? Or perhaps to make sure before he went to Mrs. Mallard? I feel like he was excited or anxious about the news that his lover’s husband was now out of the picture. Richards wanted to get to her before anyone else. Did he want to let her know that they could finally be together, or as the story told “he hastened to forestall any less careful, less tender friend in bearing sad message.”(Chopin 33)? Either way, it seemed odd that he would not want her family to be with her for support, rather than to let her receive the news alone. A family member seems better suited to attend to a widow who has just found out her husband died, rather than a “friend of the family”, which the author made Richards out to be.
Mrs. Mallard’s emotions or lack of proper emotions, to the news of her husband’s demise seemed to support the idea of an extramarital relationship. “. . . she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.”(Chopin 33) Was this so no one could witness her excitement over Mr. Mallards death, so they did not see her rejoice at the possibility of being released from the bonds of matrimony that had kept her prisoner? I felt that her chanting “free, free, free” (Chopin 34) said to the reader that she was free to be with Richards.
She admits “And yet she had loved him . . . sometimes.”(Chopin 34), did she love him when she was not with Richar...