Symbolic and Ironic References in The Story of an Hour

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In “The Story of an Hour” Chopin uses irony and symbolism to help the reader understand the relationship between the Mallards. Symbolism is most often used in stories to explain the characters emotions or problems. Chopin uses many objects to represent Louis Mallards freedom. Chopin also uses irony in all three ways; Dramatic, Situational, and verbally. The most drastic irony she used in “The Story of an Hour” was situational irony. Situational irony was used when the doctors said Louis died “-of the joy that kills.” The characters didn’t know that Louis died contrary to what they meant. Having a heart condition they believe Louis died of the love for her husband, in contrary she died at the sight of her (live) undesirable husband.
Kate Chopin’s “the story of an Hour” was about a married women named Louis, who has a severe heart condition. Louis Mallard was informed of her husband’s death. Feeling oppressed by her husband [the normality living as a wife in the 1900’s] Brently Mallard caused a twist to her reaction of the news. Instead of Lois grieving her husband’s death he wonders the thoughts of her new freedom. The deeper into her thoughts the more trapped she becomes in her own mind. The objects and spring time help her confront her guilt. When she is pulled away from the window her freedom is also ripped away. When she learns her husband is alive she can’t bear the thought and soon her whole world “descended”. (489)

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In “The Story of an Hour” Chopin uses irony in a way that gives the ending a shocking surprise. According to the University of Hawaii the character Louis feelscontrolled as “She sometimes loved her husband, but in a way she has been dead, a body subjected t...

... middle of paper ...

...ve been the cause of her death. It’s astonishing that an hour of peace and tranquility is power full enough to trap you in a thought for good. What little time she triumphed over the death husband and beginning of her “new found freedom” (free term paper) it seemed to only be an hour.

Works Cited

123helpmeEditors. “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.
JamesE.Miller.vol.2.Austin: Harcourt brace Jovanovich, 1991.487.Print.
Lorcher, Trent. “Symbolism in ’The story of an hour’.”Bright hub Education.N. p.
17 Mar 2014.
Shmoop Editors. “‘Story of an hour’-heart Trouble.” Shmoop, Inc. n. d. web. 17
Mar 2014.
University of Hawaii Editors. “Ironies of Life in Kate Chopin’s ‘The Story of an
Hour’.”Hawaii.edu. N. p. n. d. Web. 17 Mar 2014.

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