The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

In the “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, is about pleasure of freedom and the oppression of marriage. Just like in Kate Chopin’s story, inside most marriages, even the ones that seem to be the happiest, one can be oppressed. Even though, one might seem to be happy deep inside they miss the pleasure of freedom and living life to the fullest. Just like, in this story Mrs. Mallard feels trapped and when she hears about her husband’s death she first feels distraught, but ultimately realizes that she has gained her freedom. This news leads her to an inner battle within herself, as she tries to keep those feelings from coming out. The story culminates when she dies of a heart attack, because she realizes that her husband is not dead and she would be returning to her old pointless existence. This story has many great literary elements that keep the story interesting throughout its plot, by using great foreshadowing and symbolism.

The word irony defines situations that occur where the outcome is different from what one expects. Nothing is certain in life it is full of mysteries. Everyday scenarios can be an example of irony. In some cases, the situation can leave the person baffled and in a state of disbelief. In the short story “The Story of an Hour” written by Kate Chopin, life throws a hardball at the characters in three different forms of irony, verbal, dramatic, and situational.

Select an ironic literary work and explain the multivocal nature of the irony in the work.

Irony can be defined as a double significance which arises from the contrast in values associated with two different point of view (Leech and Short, Style in fiction; 223). The most usual kind is that which involves a contrast between a point of view stated or implied in some part of the fiction, and the assumed point of view of the author, and hence of the reader. In the Richard Connell’s short story entitled “The Cage Man” it is Horace Nimms, the main character of the story, who is involved in contrast social value; between Horace Nimms point of view and my point of view. What makes this short story unique is that when in another Connell’s short

The exploration of symbolism and irony in “The Story of an Hour”, is apparent for the reader to establish. Irony being the opposite of what is intended; Having 3 types of irony they are divided by verbal, dramatic, and situational. Symbolism is any object, person, place, or experience that represents more than what it is.

In the short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin irony is a key element the author uses. One can define irony as a situation or statement characterized by a significant difference between what is expected or understood and what actually happens or is meant. (A4) Using irony keeps the reader intrigued and creates more interest in reading the story. The author uses several types of irony to write the story.

Nevertheless, Kate Chopin uses two types of irony in “The Story of an Hour” to reflect her views. Situational irony refers to the opposite of what is supposed to happen, and dramatic irony occurs when the reader knows something that the rest of the characters in the story do not know. The irony in this short story makes the reader understand that the unexpected happens in life.

Irony is the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. This essay will emphasize and recognize the power of irony in American Literature. “To Build a Fire,” “The Story of an Hour,” and “The Crucible” all show strong elements of irony. A quote, pulled from the book “How to Read Literature Like a Professor” says that, “In each case, the sign carries with it a customary meaning, but that doesn’t guarantee it will deliver the received meaning.” Ironic words may have many meanings, but will never have the meaning you expect. In this essay three different stories will represent the three main different types of irony. The types of irony shown in this essay will be situational irony, dramatic irony, and verbal irony.

“The Story of an Hour” Irony is everywhere and there are different types everywhere. When we read the short story called “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin we tried to identify the different types and why. Two types that we identified are situational irony, when you expect something but the opposite happens, and dramatic irony, when the audience knows what is going on but the characters don’t. If you are reading a book or watching tv or anything really try to see if you can identify different types of irony happening; even around you.

Kate Chopin introduces a secretly struggling marriage in “The Story of an Hour.” Irony, a term that shows the difference between appearance and reality, comes in three forms: dramatic, situational, and verbal; and it presents itself on multiple occasions. In the story, Mrs. Mallard experiences immense joy when her husband dies, and then dies of sorrow when he returns. In “The Story of an Hour,” Kate Chopin includes many ironic scenes to demonstrate the repression of Mrs. Mallard’s freedom. After her husband dies, Mrs. Mallard experiences an unfamiliar burst of joy and relief.

When reading “The Story of an Hour” written by Kate Chopin, the reader may think that the story is going to be about the husband that dies. As the story develops the reader notice the use of irony. The wife at first feels extremely sad but then she realizes that she is going to be free. As the analyst of the story believes that this is about a woman who feels like she finally is going to live for herself but suddenly that freedom is taken away from her which causes her own death.

Everyone who reads a story will interpret things slightly different than the person who reads it before or after him or her. This idea plays out with most every story, book, song, and movie. These interpretations create conflict and allow people to discuss different ideas and opinions. Without this conflict of thought there is no one devoting time to debate the true meaning of a text. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” tells about a woman who is informed of her husbands death, processes the emotions, and becomes content with this new status as an individual person – losing all the expectations that society expected her to live by within a marriage. This story however is written in a way that the reader has the final interpretation of the text. There are many different interpretations on not only the reason for the main character’s death, but also on the overwhelming emotions that she faces.

Kate Chopin used dramatic irony in “The Story of An Hour”to express her theme that women’s roles were changing in American Society. Dramatic Irony is when the audience knows something that other characters aren’t aware. Dramatic Irony happened when Ms.Mallard starts to realize that as a result of her husband’s death she can be free and no longer is bond to duty. Joyness and happiness starts to stir inside of her, and her sister Josephine doesn’t realize this and is assuming that her sister is in grief and in despair because of the news of her husband. These events is an example of dramatic irony because Josephine thinks that her sister is crying and wailing because of her husband's death but in reality Ms.Mallard is full with joy. Many wonder

Imagine a person wearing a medal for the fastest sprinter in the world has a speedometer attached to him. He is getting ready to sprint in a 100-meter race. Two seconds after the whistle blows and he takes off, his speedometer reads 1 mph. That was unexpected, which is the whole point of irony. Irony is found in many stories. Although readers may think irony used in stories are for temporary effects of the moment it is read, the author has a bigger purpose than just enhancing their story. The authors of “The Sniper”, Liam O'Flaherty, and “The Princess and the Tin Box”, James Thurber, utilize situational irony to present the moral of each story.

The story of an hour by Kate Chopin provides many examples of “inside” and “outside”. My first impression I get of Mrs. Mallard when she is told that her husband has been killed in a train accident was normal. Mrs. Mallard had just found out that she lost her spouse and she grieves which is normal in such a situation. But the thing that obstructed my impression of her was when she went to her room. She started to stare out the open window and came to the sudden realization that she was free. “When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: "free, free, free!" said Chopin.(53) After reading that line it led me to believe that Mrs. Mallard felt stuck in her marriage because after the fact she came to terms that he was gone, she started to feel a large amount joy. According to Chopin “there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought. (53) When she gazed out through her open window, she was seeing her metaphorically unattainable freedom.