The Story of an Hour

"The Story of an Hour"
by Kate Chopin

"What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in face of this possession of self assertion which she suddently recognized as the strongest impulse of her being". (Chopin 268)

Throughout "The Story of an Hour" it is clear to see that Josephine Mallard is unhappy in her marriage. This is shown when, after a moment of despair, she becomes overwhelmed with happines because she would no longer have to live for her husband but instead "she would live for herself". (Chopin 268) Chopin also mentions that Josephine only loved her husband "sometimes". What is never directly said is why Josephine is so unhappy. A more obvious reason is that she felt suffocated in her marriage. You can see this when she says under her breath, "free, free, free". (Chopin 268) In the above sentence there is evidence she is is suffocating because in her marriage she never lived her own life. When you are in love with someone there is no reason why you still can't feel this "self assertion".(Chopin 268)