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What Do You Think Of The Reason Of Her Death “Of Joy That Kills”?

The story of an hour happened within one hour in which the reappearance of Mr. Mallard had led the story to a sudden end- the death of Mrs. Mallard. The reason of her death “of joy that kills” has arisen many thoughts. In my opinion, the term “of joy that kills” can be understood in two different ways as follow.

First of all, I would like to talk about the joy literally. The joy that killed Mrs. Mallard can be her extremely exciting feelings when her husband reappeared before her eyes unawares. Deep down in her heart, she loved her husband though living with him made her depressed. The joy she felt with the freedom she found in her husband's death was clear, but no specific evidence pointed out that she was skeptical of marriage in general. However, indeed, if we take the last line of the story literally, we would understand that Mrs. Mallard was intensely infatuated by her marriage to her husband that she died from the excitement of knowing he was still alive.

Another way of understanding the reason for her death “of joy that kills” can be the terrible shock. Taking into account the theme of the story, it is society's treatment of the disabled, "There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature". This lets us know that not just her husband was repressing her but men and women around her. Her life had no meaning or excitement. All she ever wanted was freedom from the marriage and not to feel entitled to her husband at all times. That's why when knowing the death, a new feeling, a new sense of life came upon her and she felt relieved from her former lifestyle that included him. She knew she would be changed forever. Her feelings were expressed when she kept whispering "Free! Body and soul free!” She then felt that her soul was free from the torture her husband had brought upon her. She then was happy because she didn't have to live for anyone...