What emotions does Mrs. Mallard experience during the hour she spends alone in her room? What events do you imagine take place during this same period outside her room? Outside her house?

Mrs. Mallard is rather complex. There are many feelings over the death of her husband ranging from relief to sadness to elation. After discovering that her husband has died in a train accident, Mrs. Mallard faces conflicting emotions of grief at her husband's death and exultation at the prospects for freedom in the remainder of her life. The latter emotion eventually takes precedence in her thoughts. Outside her room there is the supposition that this is a very sad and morbid affair. After all, nobody wants to be a widow!

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