The first four paragraphs of this story emphasize that life is "happening" to Mrs. Mallard and that she is not, for the moment at least,...

The first four paragraphs of Chopin's "The Story of an
Hour", depict Mrs. Mallard (the protagonist) depicts that she is not in control of her
life.

In the first paragraph it is stated that Mrs. Mallard
has heart trouble. This could lead a reader to assume that people are very aware of this
issue and take the most care in dealing with her. What this says is that, because of her
condition, Mrs. Mallard cannot do the things a completely healthy person can do. Her
heart trouble controls her life.

This idea is supported by
the fact that her sister, Josephine, of the death of Mr. Mallard, she told her in
"veiled hints that revealed in half concealing." This shows the reader that, again, her
heart trouble is controlling her life.

After hearing of her
husband's death, Mrs. Mallard reacts with a "paralyzed inability." She, again, has no
control over what is happening to her and her emotions.

In
the forth paragraph, Mrs. Mallard sinks into a chair "pressed down by a physical
exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul." Again, she is
unable to fight against the force pressing her down.