The Story of An Hour by Kate Chopin

This is a story of Mrs. Mallard who was trapped in a loveless marriage. Upon learning that her husband was killed in a train accident she finally saw a ray of hope. Slowly it dawned on her that she would be free to live her live the way she want to and there would be no one who could impose his will over her. But when in the end Mr. Mallard suddenly appeared unscathed from the train accident she found it hard to believe and died of the shock.
It is a nice little story which tackles with the big issue of women rights and suppression. Kate Chopin has used the imagery and symbolism in the story very beautifully to convey the emotions of happiness and sorrow. The scenery outside the window of Mrs. Mallard give hints of coming spring which in turn symbolize the feeling of being free. Mrs Mallard was feeling free as a bird, free to fly anytime anywhere in the open sky without any boundaries.
The story is written at the time when women were given very few rights and they were considered essentially the property of their husbands. The idea of being the owner of their own destiny was alien to the women of that time. when suddenly Mrs.Mallard realized that she would be free to do what she could not contain her happiness and the sudden shock of her fate turned sour took her life.
The story also warned of assuming things too quickly because it might not be as rosy as it appears at first glance.