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Brently Mallard, Louise’s husband, plays an extensive role in “The Story of an Hour” even though he only appears physically in the last moments of the narrative. His supposed death serves as the catalyst for Louise’s entire emotional arc, and his return home symbolizes the broader persistence of patriarchal values and power dynamics. The fact that his minimal presence impacts the course of the story so dramatically speaks to the significant level of influence that he has over his wife’s life. His influence, however, is not malicious or intentionally degrading. Instead, Louise acknowledges that Brently “never looked save with love upon her” and always treated her with kindness. These characteristics, which seem antithetical to his inadvertently dark role in the story, suggest that the presence of any man is enough to stunt Louise’s personal growth rather than Brently specifically. He serves as a symbol of the oppression that the institution of marriage inflicts on women regardless of the interpersonal dynamic between husband and wife.
The other notable aspect of Brently’s character is the calm and oblivious attitude with which he returns home. Of course, his lack of knowledge regarding the train accident and the false news of his death makes his composed entrance believable, but the way in which his behavior contrasts with Louise’s shocking death represents just how much higher the stakes are for women when individual agency is concerned. Chopin’s decision to only focus on Louise’s reaction to Brently instead of also highlighting his response to her death implies that their reunion at the door affects her far more than it does him.
