Nearly a Feast of Freedom--swept from the tounge before the taste

First I'd like to say I love how the author, Chopin, uses the setting to reflect the emotions of the characters. For example, in "The Story of an Hour""the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life...delicious breath of rain was in the air...countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves". These phrases represent happiness, a sense of being reborn, or a new life. This is how Louise was feeling when she realized she was free. I like this technique. Chopin also used it in "The Storm". I quote, "they did not heed the crashing torrents, and the roar of the elements". That was how Calixta and Alcee felt in their irresponsible moment of passion. Chopin then writes, "the growl of the thunder was distant and passing away...the rain was over." After the affair was over, they were more calm, immitating the whole time the storm.

I really liked "The Story of an Hour". I thought it was both interesting and engaging in a short amount of time. It was sad that her husband "died" at the beginning of the story. I felt terrible for her. Here is this woman with a heart condition and no children--at least no children are mentioned--she was bound to be all alone now that her husband was "killed". This story somewhat reminded me of Romeo and Juliet. Now let me explain what I mean by that. Not the unquestioning love those two had for each other, but for all of the devious or remote plots happening at the same time which no one was aware of throughout the play. Most of the characters in that play had a certain plan for their personal success, or a hidden agenda, if you will. Only the audience knows the entire outside story as they read, the characters are oblivious. In "The Story of an Hour", we know exactly what Louise just crucially realized or comprehended in a matter of minutes(I'm guessing it was minutes since the whole story takes place in an hour). Her emotions ranged from the deepest sadness imaginable(debatable) to perhaps the most superfluous happiness she sought after without knowing--her freedom. I guess the connection I make between these two texts is that both Louise and Romeo died from what they didn't know. Kind of. Also, the doctors, Louise's sister and brother-in-law all thought she died from happiness or shock of finding out that her husband had actually not been killed. Not communicated to them that it was in fact the opposite, under confusion without knowing. We as the audience know or interpret her death to be from her realizing she was not free after all. Especially after her terrific realization, a fantasy, which freedom she merely, nearly tasted.