The sister of Louise Mallard. Aware of Louise’s heart troubles, she breaks the news of Brently’s death to Louise using a calm demeanor. She actively worries about her sister’s health and tries to protect her from herself. Wheareas Louise is a women who, in her moment of grief, sees how society entraps and controls women, Josephine is more traditional and shows no such insight. In fact, her character seems to show how both men and women of society control and entrap other women.
Josephine Quotes in The Story of an Hour
The The Story of an Hour quotes below are all either spoken by Josephine or refer to Josephine. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Signet edition of The Story of an Hour published in 1976.
“The Story of an Hour”
Quotes
She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms.
Related Characters:
Louise Mallard, Josephine
Related Symbols:
Louise’s Weak Heart
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
She arose at length and opened the door to her sister’s importunities. There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory. She clasped her sister’s waist, and together they descended the stairs.
Related Characters:
Louise Mallard, Josephine
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Josephine Character Timeline in The Story of an Hour
The timeline below shows where the character Josephine appears in The Story of an Hour. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
“The Story of an Hour”
Louise Mallard has a weak heart. Her sister Josephine, who is worried that bad news will overwhelm Louise and worsen her condition, tells her...
(full context)
...time period, who become paralyzed by denial when confronted by bad news, Louise weeps into Josephine’s arms with wild abandon.
(full context)
...grief subside, Louise escapes into her bedroom and locks the door. She refuses to let Josephine or Richards follow her. Alone, she falls into a chair placed before an open window....
(full context)
Meanwhile, worried that Louise will make herself sick by staying alone in her bedroom, Josephine kneels outside the room and begs her sister through the keyhole to open the door....
(full context)
Eventually Louise rises from her chair and opens the door, just as Josephine begs her to. Louise’s eyes are alight with triumph, and without realizing it she carries...
(full context)