"But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought" (Chopin).
Chopin characterized Mrs. Mallard as apathetic. However, this apathy was something that developed in her; it was not innate. She had become trapped at some point in her life. Chopin suggests her marriage left her feeling imprisoned. Mrs. Mallard keeps to herself as she immediately leaves when she hears the news about her husband. She additionally keeps her feelings bottled inside; she rejects and resists her own emotional responses. Therefore, when her source of imprisonment dissipates, she is set "free." During the realization of her liberty, she imagines the future of the rest of her life and how she will live as she wishes. Apparently, the stimulation and emotion that personal freedom evoked proved too much for Mrs. Mallard causing her to die "of joy that kills."
"So much attention is paid to the aggressive sins, such as violence and cruelty and greed with all their tragic effects, that too little attention is paid to the passive sins, such as apathy and laziness, which in the long run can have a more devastating effect."-Eleanor Roosevelt
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