Question

Which excerpt from "The Story of an Hour" best indicates that Mrs. Mallard may not be grieving about her husband’s sudden death?

Answer 1

She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance

Answer 2

Answer: She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance.

The excerpt indicates that, while most women who receive similar news (the death of their spouses) become paralyzed and unable to accept their situation, she did not react in this way. This suggests that she reacted with acceptance. Although it is not necessarily true, this could imply that Mrs. Mallard was not grieving the sudden death of her husband.