Question

"The Story of an Hour" is an 1894 short story written by Kate Chopin. In describing the character of Mrs. Mallard, Chopin emphasizes the complexity of Mrs. Mallard’s emotional response to her husband’s death:


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Which quotation from "The Story of an Hour" most effectively illustrates the claim?

A
"She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms. When the storm of grief had spent itself, she went away to her room alone."

B
"But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome."

C
"There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name."

D
"When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: 'Free, free, free!'"

Answer 1

C

This passage most directly shows the complexity of Mrs. Mallard’s emotions: she senses a feeling she cannot name — ambiguous, subtle, and apprehensive — indicating a mixture of responses rather than simple, single-minded grief.