2:25 .ll LTE 574 Take Quiz Exit And yet she had loved him-sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being! \( { }^{5} \) "Free! Body and soul free!" she kept whispering. Based on this passage, what inferences can readers make about Mrs. Mallard's feelings about her marriage ending with her husband's death? Mrs. Mallard did not love her husband because he imposed his will on her, but she is fearful about her new, independent life without him. While Mrs. Mallard loved her husband, her new independence brought new and exciting possibilities to her life. Mrs. Mallard loved her husband and is fearful of her new, independent life without him. Mrs. Mallard did not love her husband because he imposed his will on her, and she is happy he is gone.

The passage provides insight into Mrs. Mallard's complex feelings about her marriage and the newfound sense of freedom she experiences upon learning of her husband's death. Let's analyze the options based on the text: 1. **Mrs. Mallard did not love her husband because he imposed his will on her, but she is fearful about her new, independent life without him.** - *Analysis:* While it's true that Mrs. Mallard often did not love her husband, the passage does not indicate fear about her independence. Instead, she feels a strong sense of self-assertion and freedom. 2. **While Mrs. Mallard loved her husband, her new independence brought new and exciting possibilities to her life.** - *Analysis:* The passage mentions that she loved him sometimes but often did not, suggesting a more complicated relationship rather than straightforward love paired with excitement about independence. 3. **Mrs. Mallard loved her husband and is fearful of her new, independent life without him.** - *Analysis:* This option contradicts the passage, which emphasizes her sense of freedom rather than fear regarding her independence. 4. **Mrs. Mallard did not love her husband because he imposed his will on her, and she is happy he is gone.** - *Analysis:* This aligns closely with the passage. It highlights that she often did not love him and focuses on her profound sense of freedom and happiness upon recognizing her independence. **Best Answer:** Mrs. Mallard did not love her husband because he imposed his will on her, and she is happy he is gone.