Irony In The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin

In “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, the emotions of the audience are stirred by using literary devices to bring the story to life. Evoking the use of symbolism, irony, and conflict allows for the story to deeply penetrate the hearts of the reader. In order to give the story a deeper meaning, the author used symbolism to represent ideas and feelings outside of the main character’s self. Several examples of symbolism were displayed in the story, the most prominent being the open window. Mrs. Mallard, the main character, peered through the newly opened window with newborn eyes and gazed upon the new opportunities and prospects that life now offered her. She observed leaves quivering with spring life, street venders selling their merchandise, and clear skies that belonged to a glorious day. These aspects symbolize the glimpse into freedom, happiness, and opportunities now available to her because of her husband’s recent death. The open window is but one element in the story through which the author uses symbolism.

Dramatic irony was perhaps the most prevailing type of irony in the story. One example of this type of irony can be seen in the death of Mrs. Mallard after her recently deceased husband walked through the door. Situational irony closely resembles the dramatic irony of the story. The final type of irony used in the story is verbal irony. The heart trouble of Mrs. Mallard can be considered verbal irony. The heart trouble mentioned at the beginning of the story is assumed to be a physical ailment, but this problem could also be attributed to the fact that she has a troubled soul. By using irony, the reader could experience an almost humorous aspect of the