The character Mrs. Mallard defies the traditional role of women in the 1800's. In the beginning of the short story Mrs. Mallard is depicted as a weak and fragile woman who suffered from heart trouble. When the news of Mrs. Mallard's husband's death was made apparent, Richards, a family friend and Mrs. Mallard's sister were very delicate in the way they broke the news to her. Once the news was broken to her, it seemed as if Mrs. Mallard would act to her husband's death in the traditional way " sh

To some Mrs. Mallards reaction to her husband's death may have seemed distasteful but to others it is seen as a step in the right direction. Mrs. Mallard is not joyful about her husband's death but joyful about the newborn freedom she receives with the news. This is shown by her thoughts later on "she knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death" (11). However in the same paragraph her husband's feelings about her are made obvious with the line "...the face [Mr. Mallard's] that had never looked save with love upon her" (11). One can assume that Mr. Mallard never really expressed his love towards his wife that left her with these feelings inside. Mrs. Mallard's reaction is just a woman freeing herself of the oppression her husband has placed on her.

"She saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And then she opened and spread out her arms out to them in welcome" (11).Mrs. Mallard turned from powerless to someone who had absolute power in all of about 10 minutes.

The character of Mrs. Mallard exhibits the conscious and subconscious feeling that women hold

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Approximate Word count = 787
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)