The story begins when Mrs. Mallard is told her husband is believed to have died after a railroad accident after Richards, a family friend, hears of the news in the local newspaper office. With Louise, having a weak heart with suffering from a heart disease, Josephine, Louise’s sister, and Richards try to break the news as gently as possible. Mrs. Mallard locks herself in her room immediately after hearing the news to grieve the loss of her husband; however, once she’s alone in the room, she begins to feel an unexpected sense of happiness and a freedom she has never felt before. Although she’s alone, Louise begins to realize that she is now an independent woman. Even though these are her private thoughts, she at first tries to hold back the joy she feels, and according to Chopin, she tries to “beat it back with her will.” (404) Finally accepting the joy and happiness, she feels like she must let herself go to it as the word “free” (404) is murmured from her lips. Terrified her sister is making herself ill, Josephine begs Louise to open the door to the bedroom at once. Louise was far from making herself ill; she was soaking up the happiness and thoughts of being on her own. She finally worked up to the courage to open the door and clasped at her sister’s waist, together they went downstairs where Richards was waiting for them. Suddenly the sound of a latchkey is heard and the front door opens where Brently Mallard enters. Seconds later, doctors say Louise died of a joy that…