Final answer:
Kate Chopin's heroine experiences a complex emotional change upon her husband's reported death, initially feeling grief but then a sense of freedom. Her death upon his return is attributed to joy, but it may have been the loss of her newfound autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The emotions of Kate Chopin's heroine following the news of her husband's death are complex. While there's an initial sense of grief, as she acknowledges the tender moments shared, there is a profound sense of freedom and relief that comes with the realization that her life will now be her own. This emotional transformation is pivotal in The Story of an Hour, where the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard, reflects on the new life awaiting her, which is filled with personal autonomy and self-assertion. The crucial moment comes when her deceased husband returns, very much alive, leading to Mrs. Mallard's sudden death. The doctors attribute her death to the joy that kills, but the story suggests that her heart could not bear the transition from liberation back to repression.