“The Story of an Hour” has an intense twist that no one saw coming. Throughout the story Kate Chopin uses irony to enhance the effect of ending in “The Story of an Hour.” Chopin starts the story to make readers believe one concept then changes it many times throughout the story. Kate Chopin incorporates the idea of feminism into the irony, she does this because at the time of the story women didn’t have equal rights and suffered from poor treatment. Kate Chopin's use of Irony in The Story of an Hour illustrates the surprise ending, underscores the relationship between husband and wife while highlighting the theme of freedom, and the dramatic irony. The surprise ending is illustrated phenomenally by the irony used throughout the story. Kate
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“Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death,” (6). Although by the end of the story readers understand that this quote is only here for the irony, it is what makes the story memorable and entertaining. “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy that kills,” (8). This is the line that makes the story. It changes the story from Mrs. Mallard having different feelings about her husband's death, to her dying. The dramatic irony is important because she doesn’t really die from heart problems, but from the shock or guilt of her husband still being alive. Kate Chopin in “The Story of an Hour” uses irony to support the twist ending, to illustrate the relationship between husband and wife, and to allow dramatic irony. Dramatic irony in “The Story of an Hour” gives readers a different perspective and allows us to understand details that the characters can’t. If “The Story of an Hour” didn’t have irony Mrs. Mallard would be still be alive and Mr. Mallard would be dead. Irony also makes stories unpredictable by adding twists that readers can’t always predict. If it weren’t for irony, many stories including “The Story of an Hour” would be bland and not
“Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death,” (6). Although by the end of the story readers understand that this quote is only here for the irony, it is what makes the story memorable and entertaining. “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy that kills,” (8). This is the line that makes the story. It changes the story from Mrs. Mallard having different feelings about her husband's death, to her dying. The dramatic irony is important because she doesn’t really die from heart problems, but from the shock or guilt of her husband still being alive. Kate Chopin in “The Story of an Hour” uses irony to support the twist ending, to illustrate the relationship between husband and wife, and to allow dramatic irony. Dramatic irony in “The Story of an Hour” gives readers a different perspective and allows us to understand details that the characters can’t. If “The Story of an Hour” didn’t have irony Mrs. Mallard would be still be alive and Mr. Mallard would be dead. Irony also makes stories unpredictable by adding twists that readers can’t always predict. If it weren’t for irony, many stories including “The Story of an Hour” would be bland and not