. Louise’s escape from grief

Louise’s independence from marriage

Louise’s happiness at her husband’s death

Louise’s physical freedom to leave the house

They create irony

They convey excitement and emotional release

They weaken the seriousness of the moment

To reflect religious beliefs about death

She was emotionally fulfilled

She felt physically threatened

To emphasise total, complete liberation

She experienced internal repression

To show Louise is exaggerating

To suggest freedom is temporary

To emphasise total, complete liberation

To reflect religious beliefs about death

Louise is physically recovering from illness

freedom as a rare, powerful source of renewal

implies Louise is exaggerating her emotions

It foreshadows her immediate death

Marriage in the 19th century was based on romantic equality

Women often lacked legal and personal independence within marriage

Divorce was common and socially accepted

Women were discouraged from emotional expression