Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" is told in the omniscient, third person point of view. This viewpoint allows for the narrator of the story to be all-knowing (omniscient) and to share with the readers information that the characters may not be privy to, given their experiences.
This point of view makes it possible for both of the following pieces of information to be accurate and believable:
He [Richards] had only taken the time to assure himself of its truth by a second telegram, and had hastened to forestall any less careful, less tender friend in bearing the sad message.
and
Into this she [Mrs. Mallard] sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.
An omniscient point of view allows for readers to experience what Richards felt when he first received the news of Mr. Mallard's death as well as for them to experience what Mrs. Mallard feels in the moments following the news being broken to her.
Omniscient point of view can be a tremendously useful device, particularly in cases where there are key plot elements happening in different times and places in a story.
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