Kate Chopin was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1850. She began writing fiction in 1889. Chopin’s writing was about life and people in Louisiana. She focused her writing on love, sex, marriage, women, and independence. “The Story of an Hour” was published in 1894 and is one of Chopin’s most famous stories. Irony is defined as the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of its literal meaning. There are three different types of irony; situational, dramatic and verbal. All three cases of irony appear in the story.
There are three different senses of irony when Louise is relieved that her husband is dead, which is something that the reader was not expecting and she dies of joy after becoming free. These literary devices are used by …show more content…
The use of this type of irony is very noticeable in Chopin’s story. No context clue was given when the question of Mr. Mallard’s death arose. When Mrs. Mallard heard any type of bad news her reaction was very different from the typical female, she accepted the news and moved on. She had a very atypical reaction to her husband’s death; “She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with paralyzed inability to accept its significance.” Contrary to how most widows react to the news of their husband’s deaths, she almost seemed relieved. This is hinted at in the description “There were patches of blue sky”. There was happiness surrounding Mrs. Mallard in this scene, almost as if a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. It is easy to understand that she is not sad about her husband’s death, she reached a new level of freedom with the news she received and now she will be able to dedicate her life to herself. The author illustrates the joy that is growing inside of Mrs. Mallard; “She said it over and over under her breath: free, free, …show more content…
This type of irony involves different perceptions by the reader rather than by the characters that are in the story. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the characters do not. The entire story, the audience is expecting the moment when Mrs. Mallard breaks down, and to faint in shock, this expectation was met but not by what the audience thought caused it. She sobs “with sudden, wild abandonment”. There is no question that she is being fueled by complete sorrow. However, things take a left turn when the terror in her eyes is replaced by keen brightness and feverish triumph. The suspicions are confirmed by her whispering “free, free, free” It is obvious to the audience that Mrs. Mallard feels complete freedom because of the death of her husband. She wishes to be alone in order to be able to fully comprehend her freedom from her repression as a Victorian
There are three different senses of irony when Louise is relieved that her husband is dead, which is something that the reader was not expecting and she dies of joy after becoming free. These literary devices are used by …show more content…
The use of this type of irony is very noticeable in Chopin’s story. No context clue was given when the question of Mr. Mallard’s death arose. When Mrs. Mallard heard any type of bad news her reaction was very different from the typical female, she accepted the news and moved on. She had a very atypical reaction to her husband’s death; “She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with paralyzed inability to accept its significance.” Contrary to how most widows react to the news of their husband’s deaths, she almost seemed relieved. This is hinted at in the description “There were patches of blue sky”. There was happiness surrounding Mrs. Mallard in this scene, almost as if a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. It is easy to understand that she is not sad about her husband’s death, she reached a new level of freedom with the news she received and now she will be able to dedicate her life to herself. The author illustrates the joy that is growing inside of Mrs. Mallard; “She said it over and over under her breath: free, free, …show more content…
This type of irony involves different perceptions by the reader rather than by the characters that are in the story. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the characters do not. The entire story, the audience is expecting the moment when Mrs. Mallard breaks down, and to faint in shock, this expectation was met but not by what the audience thought caused it. She sobs “with sudden, wild abandonment”. There is no question that she is being fueled by complete sorrow. However, things take a left turn when the terror in her eyes is replaced by keen brightness and feverish triumph. The suspicions are confirmed by her whispering “free, free, free” It is obvious to the audience that Mrs. Mallard feels complete freedom because of the death of her husband. She wishes to be alone in order to be able to fully comprehend her freedom from her repression as a Victorian