The Locket is a short story by Kate Chopin, first published in 1897. It tells the story of a young woman, Louise Mallard, who is informed of her husband's death in a train accident. Initially, she is overcome with grief, but soon realizes that his death has freed her from a loveless marriage. She is filled with joy and a newfound sense of freedom, until she finds a locket that her husband had been wearing at the time of his death. The locket contains a photograph of her husband and his former lover, and Louise is filled with sadness and regret. She realizes that her husband had been unfaithful to her, and that her newfound freedom is now tainted with sorrow. In the end, Louise is left with a bittersweet understanding of her husband's death and her newfound freedom.
By Kate Chopin · First published 1899 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction · 2 chapters