Answer and explanation:
Mrs. Mallard is a character in the short story "The Story of an Hour" by author Kate Chopin. Mrs. Mallard has a heart condition that makes her susceptible to dying in case of a great shock or surprise. Thus, when a friend of hers finds out that her husband has died, he asks Mrs. Mallard's sister to break the news in a gentle way.
Mrs. Mallard is obviously sad about her husband's death. She cries for some time and then goes to her room, locking herself in. However, she leaves the window wide open and stares out of it, realizing that the world is still the same, that nothing has stopped due to her husband's death. She also realizes that she is now a free woman. Even though she loves her husband very much, not having him around means she can do as she pleases without having to worry about justifying herself.
Unfortunately, the whole thing was just a mistake and her husband is still very much alive. When he comes home, Mrs. Mallard's heart can't take the disappointment, and she dies from the shock of no longer being free.
