Question

"She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves." Why is it unusual that Chopin describes this view from Mrs. Mallard's window

Answer 1

Answer:

The description is unusual for it gives a picture of someone who is celebrating and looking forward to living, rather than the 'expected' mournful and sad image that was to be expected of someone like Mrs. Mallard whose husband had just died.

Explanation:

In Kate Chopin's short story "The Story of an Hour", we see the character of Mrs. Mallard being informed of the tragic accident which killed her husband. For a typical wife, this news would have been heartbreaking and shattering. But Mrs. Mallard did not react like expected. Instead, she began to see the bright side of things and seemed to be enjoying her new life, without her husband.

This description of the view from the window is unusual for it gives a picture of positivity, as if she has been waiting for this moment her whole life. Rather than cry and mourn the death of her husband, Chopin began to describe the beautiful window view from Mrs. Mallard's perspective to show that it is a day of celebration for her, even though it came from the death of her husband.