In The Story of an Hour, Louise Mallard is a young and beautiful lady. The author describes her as a woman who has a fair and calm face that portrays her as a strong woman. She is full of youth. However, she has a heart problem that her friends and relatives think might put her in danger. Because of her delicate heart condition, her sister – Josephine- and her husband’s friend – Richard- both believe that they must break the news of her husband’s death in a very careful manner.
Both Richard and Josephine believe that the sad news might shock her to the point of death or worsen her condition. As such, they take their time and deliver the message in a more calculated way. Her heart problem can be seen to overcome her at the end of the story when she dies of shock after seeing her husband (whom she thought was dead). Despite her condition, Louise Mallard remains a character with varying personalities.
Louise Mallard is a weakling. From the look of things, her heart trouble has deteriorated her health. She is a person who needs careful handling by people around her. The author describes her as having powerless white hands. She is always indoors and is not capable of doing difficult chore inside or outside the house. She is constantly in the house where her friends know that they can come and assist her in the best ways that they can because she cannot walk long distances away from home.
Louse Mallard is a secretive person who spent most her time alone. She does not like sharing her problems or thoughts with anyone. After receiving the sad news of her husband’s death, she decides not to show any immediate reactions to her sister or her husband’s friend. Instead, she goes to her usual room and locks herself in order to have time with herself.
While sitting comfortably on her chair facing the window, it can be seen that she is very much at peace with herself while alone than when she is around other people. She does not want others to know whether she is happy or sad about her husband’s death.
Louise is also an emotional person. It seems like she fears death. While sitting alone in her room, she silently thinks about her husband’s death like some kind of loss. She grieves the death of her husband by sobbing like a small child. The author says that Mallard knew that she was going to weep again for her husband during his burial.
Additionally, Louise Mallard is resentful. Even though she grieves the loss of her husband, she likes the idea that she will never see him again in her life. For some reasons, she hates her husband for having done some unpleasant things to her in their marriage life.
It seems that Louise hates her husband for not giving her the freedom or love that she deserved as a young lady. According to her, she believed that her life was going to be a wasted one with the husband around her. The news of her husband’s death brings her a sigh of relief. She can see a bright future full of freedom without him.
Moreover, Louise is an optimistic person. After confirming her husband death, she is sure of a bright future that is full of happiness. The author describes how Louise opens and spreads her arms wide in order to welcome a wonderful future that belongs to her alone.
In conclusion, Louise Mallard remains a character with varying personalities. She is a character that cannot be easily understood by the audience. Personally, I believe that her varying personality is vital to the plot of the story since her character keeps audience gazing about her subsequent moves in the story.