The Story of an Hour is a short story by Kate Chopin, first published in 1894. It follows Louise Mallard, a woman with a heart condition, who receives the news that her husband has died in a train accident. At first, Louise is overcome with grief, but as she sits alone in her room, she begins to realize a deep sense of relief and freedom. She feels joy at the thought of living life for herself, without being tied to the expectations of marriage.

However, the story ends with a shocking twist. Louise’s husband, Brently Mallard, walks through the door alive and unharmed—the news of his death was a mistake. Upon seeing him, Louise collapses and dies from what the doctors call “heart disease—of joy that kills.” The story explores themes of freedom, repression, and the role of women in marriage, using irony to deliver a powerful commentary on the emotional complexity of personal liberation.