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Josephine considers her sister’s heart condition in the literal sense when she attempts to gently break the news of Mr. Mallard’s death, a moment which serves as the story’s inciting incident.
Louise Mallard is a young, calm, and frail woman who suffers from a heart disease. On this day, Louise learns from her sister Josephine and a family friend, Richards, that her husband, Brently Mallard, has died. She briefly weeps in Josephine’s arms and then heads to her room alone.
The sister of Louise Mallard. Aware of Louise’s heart troubles, she breaks the news of Brently ’s death to Louise using a calm demeanor. She actively worries about her sister’s health and tries to protect her from herself.
Louise Mallard has a weak heart. Her sister Josephine, who is worried that bad news will overwhelm Louise and worsen her condition, tells her as calmly as possible that her husband, Brently Mallard, has been killed in a train accident.
Josephine is especially worried about her sister’s heart condition, which we see in greater detail later as she warns Louise, “You will make yourself ill.” When Louise locks herself in her room, Josephine is desperate to make sure her sister is okay and begs Louise to let her in.
While she uses euphemisms and gentle language out of fear for her sister’s heart condition, the negative connotations of “broken,” “veiled,” and “concealing” suggest a more harmful side to her approach.
People also ask
How does Josephine feel about her sister's heart condition?
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What does Josephine symbolize in the story of an hour?
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Why does Louise weep when Josephine breaks the news?
Josephine is Louise’s sister, and she takes on the responsibility of breaking the news of Brently’s death to her. While her role in the story is rather minimal, Josephine’s character functions as representation of a larger cultural voice which treats Louise like an innocent and helpless woman.
