"The Story of an Hour" explores the theme of women's roles in the late 19th century, highlighting the constraints and societal expectations placed upon women. The protagonist, Louise Mallard, experiences a fleeting sense of liberation upon hearing of her husband's death, revealing the oppressive nature of her marriage. This story underscores the limited personal freedom women had during this era and suggests that true autonomy was only attainable outside the institution of marriage.

The story begins with the news of Brently Mallard's death, which is delivered carefully due to Louise's heart condition. Despite her husband's kindness, Louise feels a profound sense of relief and freedom at the thought of living for herself. This reaction reflects the societal constraints that stifled women's independence. Louise's introspection reveals her desire for freedom, a sentiment echoed by many women of her time who felt trapped by societal expectations to marry and bear children. She envisions a future where she can live for herself, free from the "powerful will bending hers."

There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.

Louise's brief experience of liberation is cut short by Brently's unexpected return. Her death, attributed by doctors to "the joy that kills," ironically underscores the societal misunderstanding of women's desires and emotions. The assumption that her death was due to happiness reflects the pervasive belief in men's importance to women's lives. In reality, her death signifies the loss of her newfound freedom and the return to her repressive role as a wife.

When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills.

Brently Mallard's character further highlights the gender disparities of the time. As a man, he enjoys freedom to travel and engage with the world, while Louise remains confined to domestic life. Her brief taste of freedom reveals her yearning for personal identity beyond her role as a wife. The story's conclusion, with Brently's return, reinforces the limitations placed on women and the societal expectation for them to find fulfillment solely within marriage.

Some one was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella.

Through Louise's experience, Chopin critiques the repressive nature of marriage and the societal norms that denied women autonomy. "The Story of an Hour" serves as a poignant commentary on the struggle for female independence and the limited roles available to women in the 19th century.