Various authors use rhetorical devices to emphasize the plot or theme in their writings. Many use symbols to convey ideas or meanings. Others use irony to make the reader analyze or paint a vivid picture of the unexpected. We see symbols in our everyday lives. For example, in religion, the cross symbolizes hope and faith to the Christians. In astrology, there are numerous of symbols, called zodiacs that identify one’s destiny and are used to determine one’s horoscope. Furthermore, in ancient times, Egyptians used symbols to communicate with one other or for religious rituals; the scriptures were called hieroglyphics. On the other hand, irony can best be described when the unexpected happens. For instance, it’s strange when a police man gets arrested or when a firehouse catches on fire. In Kate Chopin’s short story, a woman named Louise Mallard suffered of a heart disease. When her sister Josephine reveals to Louise about her husband’s tragic train accident, causing his death, her reaction was bizarre. After she is notified about her husband’s decease, she goes upstairs and locks herself in her room. She sits on her armchair, looks out her window, and fantasizes about what her life will be like without her husband, Mr. Mallard. Shortly after, Josephine comes for her, thinking Louise will get ill about the news and they both walk down the stairs. To Mrs. Mallard’s dismay, the door flings open: Mr. Mallard was alive! Mrs. Mallard was in shock but mostly disappointed, for the future she dreamed of without her husband was ruined, and dies. According to the doctor she had died of the joy that kills. There is no doubt that Kate Chopin included an abundant of symbolic and ironic references in her short story “The Story of an Hour.” In K... ... middle of paper ... ...more, the audience never figured for Mrs. Mallard, a wife, to be content about her husband’s death. What would make someone satisfied about one’s death, especially a wife? Nevertheless, Mrs. Mallard was going to be unhappy because she may have loved her husband, but she was not in love with him. Works Cited 123helpme Editors. “Symbolism in ‘The Story of an Hour’.” 123helpme. 123helpme, Inc., n.d Web. 17 Mar 2014. Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” Heritage of American Literature. Ed. James E. Miller. Vol 2. Austin: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991.487.Print. Craig, Alex. “’Story of an Hour’: Literary Critique.” Yahoo!Voices. Yahoo, Inc. ,22 Apr 2012. Web. 17 Mar 2014. Lorcher, Trent. “Irony in ‘The Story of an Hour’.”Bright Hub Education.N.p., 17 Apr. Web. 17 Mar 2014 Shmoop Editors.“’Story of an Hour’-Heart Trouble.”Shmoop.Shmoop, Inc., N.d. Web. 17 Mar 2014
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin symbolizes the irony of bitter joy by displaying the reader with a woman who is liberated that her husband has died. This is portrayed by Louise’s emotions as she alternates between numbness and joy at her new freedom due to the sudden death of her husband. The narrator describes Louise as sad and weeping, yet warmed and relaxed. No reasons are given to why she was not grief stricken and why she did not feel free in the first place. In this essay, I will explain my views and opinions of why Mrs. Ballard’s emotions were not conventional, why she felt free after the news of her husband’s death, and the irony behind her death in the end.
...t the end of the story shows that liberation of women in a society ruled by a patriarchal mindset is doomed to fail (Wan 169). According to Wan, the story of an hour is a true depiction of representation of women in the nineteenth century when movements against oppression of women began to emerge (170). Although the outcomes were not as tragic as depicted in the story, it was obviously a journey filled with many challenges, and the fact that a viable resolve is yet to be achieved to date shows the issue of gender equality is grim.
Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” An Introduction to Literature. Eds. Sylvan Barnet, William Burto, and William E. Cain. 15th ed. New York: Longman, 2008. 193-199
As Mallard walks down the stairs in an unexpected state of happiness, her husband walks through the door, and Mallard dies of “…heart disease—of the joy that kills” (Chopin, 19). Chopin uses both tone and irony to both appeal to her audience of the time and to finalize her view on women’s role in society. Her diction is that of surprise and wonder, yet the irony of the essay is prominent. She establishes logos with the audience by making it appear as if the wife died of happiness. However, to the reader, it is known that the wife actually died of lack of joy when seeing her husband alive. Although this brings a dark and mysterious mood to Chopin’s ending of her essay it adequately portrays her stance on how men diminish women’s quality of life and hold them
Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. DiYanni Robert. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1986. 38-41. Print.
During the time of its publication “The Story of an Hour” was not received with open arms. In fact, the topic itself was strange to many as it spoke of “a woman rejoicing in the death of her husband” (Hicks). And it
Mallard is the central and dynamic character of the story. After learning of her husband’s death, she sits in her room looking out her window contemplating what has just happened. She first begins to have a feeling of panic towards the unknown feeling rising within her, but the panic switches to excitement as she realizes that she’s “free, free, free!” of her husband, and it’s a realization that “relaxed every inch of her body” (13). “What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being,” she remarks (14). Mrs. Mallard seems to have never been moved so greatly, than by the knowledge that her life is now her own to live as she pleases. Had she not attached herself so strongly to her husband throughout their marriage, perhaps she would not have been lacking the independence she suddenly
Mrs. Mallard, in the story, had heart trouble and was carefully let down when they had discovered her husband’s death. Chopin said, “She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless, except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her, as a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams” (307). Throughout the entire story the reader is lead to believe she is sad over her husband’s death; when in reality she feels free again and she cries tears of joy. The story continues to tell the reader about Mrs. Mallard’s grievance, “She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. But she had saw beyond that bitter moment a long with love upon her fixed and gray and dead. But her absolutely” (Chopin 307). Mrs. Mallard looked forward to being free from her husband even though she loved him sometimes. She kept whispering, “free! Body and soul free!” (Chopin 308). As her sister thought she was weeping tears of sadness, Mrs. Mallard was happy. As Mrs. Mallard collected herself, she and her sister walked down to the bottom of the stairs together. The door began to open, it was her husband Brentley Mallard, and Mrs. Mallard passed away from “hear disease- of joy that kills” (Chopin 308). The situational irony in this story is Mrs. Mallard
Chopin, Kate. "The Story of an Hour." Introduction to Literature: Reading, Analyzing, and Writing.2nd ed.
“The Story of an Hour” was a story set in a time dominated by men. During this time women were dependent on men, but they always dreamed of freedom. Most people still think that men should be dominant and in control. They think that without men, women can’t do anything and that they can’t be happy. Well this story has a twist.
"The Story of an Hour" "The Story of an Hour" N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
While Mrs. Mallard’s husband is dead she feels more free and at peace with herself and also life. She feels as if weight is lifted off of her shoulders. Her husband is not there pressuring her, she is independent and experiencing a new life without him. Also, she feels as though it might be hard without him. As much as it might be hard on her she feels as if it will be equally if not more enjoyable. She will find herself within these new steps and experiences in her
Chopin, Kate. "The Story of an Hour." The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. 4th ed. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: St. Martins, 1997. 12-15.
In the Story of an Hour, the main character faces the troubles of feeling free after the death of her husband. However, after the news broke about the alleged death of her husband, Mrs. Mallard strangely finds herself feeling liberated. Mrs. Mallard’s newfound independence is justifiable in every way.
Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Eds. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 3rd ed. New York: Pearson, 2010. 261-263. Print.