Mallard's heart condition, another important symbol, allows the reader to see the effect her marriage has had. The first thing we learned about Mrs. Mallard was about her heart problems. The other characters struggle to break the news of her husband's death so as not to affect her heart. However, when he comes to terms with this fact, his heart becomes stronger. This is demonstrated by Chopin's description of “her breasts rising and falling tumultuously…[and how] her pulse beats rapidly and the flowing blood warms and relaxes every inch of her body” (Chopin, par. 10). It seems that the thing that keeps his heart weak and sickly is his marriage. Ironically, the organ most associated with love was being injured by the very institution that was supposed to represent it. Further evidence of his sudden recovery can be seen when he moves away from the safety and comfort of the chair so that he can "drink [the elixir of life] through that open window" (Chopin, par.16). Mrs. Mallard is invigorated by her newfound freedom that leads her from a life of illness and oppression to a life of health and liberation. The true debilitating effects of Mrs. Mallard's marriage can be seen when she discovers that her husband was not dead and that she should return to her husband.