Irony In The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin
Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" is a short story that explores the emotions of a woman who has just received the news of her husband's death. The story is full of irony, which makes it an interesting read. In this article, we will explore the different types of irony used in the story and how they contribute to the overall theme.
Verbal Irony
Verbal irony is when a character says something but means the opposite. In "The Story of an Hour," Mrs. Mallard's sister Josephine tells her the news of her husband's death. Mrs. Mallard reacts in a way that Josephine thinks is grief, but in reality, Mrs. Mallard is happy. Josephine thinks that Mrs. Mallard is crying because she loved her husband so much, but in reality, Mrs. Mallard is crying tears of joy because she is finally free.
This is an example of verbal irony because what Mrs. Mallard says and what she means are opposite. She says, "Free! Body and soul free!" when in reality, she is not free in body because she is still alive, but she is free in soul because she is finally free from her oppressive marriage.
Situational Irony
Situational irony is when the opposite of what is expected happens. In "The Story of an Hour," Mrs. Mallard is expected to be upset about her husband's death, but instead, she is happy. This is not only unexpected but also ironic because it goes against the societal norms of the time. Women were not supposed to want freedom from their husbands, but Mrs. Mallard does.
Another example of situational irony is when Mrs. Mallard's husband walks through the door unharmed. Mrs. Mallard dies of shock because she was so happy to be free, but her husband was not actually dead. This is situational irony because the reader expects Mrs. Mallard to be happy that her husband is alive, but instead, she is devastated because she thought she was finally free.
Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony is when the reader knows something that the character does not. In "The Story of an Hour," the reader knows that Mrs. Mallard's husband is not actually dead, but Mrs. Mallard does not know this. This creates dramatic irony because the reader is waiting for Mrs. Mallard to find out that her husband is alive and see how she reacts.
Another example of dramatic irony is when Mrs. Mallard locks herself in her room. The reader knows that she is happy and wants to be alone to enjoy her newfound freedom, but her sister and husband's friend think that she is grieving and want to comfort her. This creates dramatic irony because the reader knows what is really going on, but the other characters do not.
Conclusion
Overall, "The Story of an Hour" is a story full of irony. The different types of irony used in the story contribute to the overall theme of freedom and oppression. The story shows how societal norms can be oppressive and how freedom can be liberating. The use of irony in the story makes it an interesting read and adds depth to the characters and their emotions.