Irony In The Story Of An Hour - Literary Analysis Essay

Introduction

We see many instances of irony in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin. Irony refers to the use of words in a way that is different or opposite to what they mean. There are three types of irony in this story: verbal, dramatic, and situational.

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Situational irony can be used to remind the reader that sometimes what is expected doesn't happen. Dramatic irony can be used to inform the reader about something the characters in the story don't know. Verbal irony refers to a form of speech where what is said contradicts what it means. Situational irony can be found in Mrs.

Mallard's reaction after her husband's passing. Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death. Everyone in the house saw that she was sad. She went upstairs to be by herself in her bedroom.

This is the typical reaction to losing a loved one. We as readers see that Mrs. Mallard does not feel sad about the loss of her husband, but is actually relieved. She saw beyond the bitter moment, a long process of years that would be hers forever.

"She opened her arms and welcomed them with open arms" (189). In reality, Mrs. Mallard is happy for her husband's passing and looks forward to her future years of freedom. Through Mrs.

Mallard's realization of her freedom from her husband and her death. When Mrs. Mallard was alone, she realized she wasn't tied to her husband anymore and could do what she wanted. However, everyone else believed she was sad and depressed.

Josephine, a housewife, thought Mrs. Mallard was making her sick. She replied, "I beg; open your door - you'll make yourself sick" (189). She didn't know that Mrs.

Mallard was actually quite fine. Another example of dramatic irony comes when Mrs. Mallard is killed. She dies instantly from a heart attack when she discovers that her husband is still living.

The story's narrator says that "when the doctors came, they said that she had died from heart disease - of joy which kills". (190). We, the readers, know that she died because of her shock and upset. Verbal irony is the final form of irony. Verbal irony can be found in the title "The Story of an Hour".

These words refer to a brief period of time during which not many events usually occur. In this story, an hour seems like it could last a lifetime. In the space of one hour, Mrs. Mallard experiences grief, sadness, joy, and hope.

Conclusion

We can see that many things can happen in a very short time span through the title. The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is filled with all three types of irony. The story is filled with examples of verbal, dramatic, or situational irony. It is evident that Kate Chopin's writing parallels her own life.

Her doctor encouraged her to write fiction after she had suffered a lot. Her writing often draws heavily from her own experiences and is filled with subtle irony.