Kate Chopin and The Story of an Hour

Symbolism is one of the most common yet complicated literary devices. Symbols are something that represents an object, person, or an idea. The American flag is a perfect example of symbolism simply because it symbolizes justice and freedom. The wishbone is another, many believe that it symbolizes the ability to grant a wish or even heal the sick. There is even the four leaf clover which is symbolized as a good luck charm. Some symbols can represent bad things like death and other negative stuff. This is why symbolism has a lot of irony. Irony can be used and defined in many different ways. It usually means the opposite or sarcasm. For examplea, if I told my friend “I have to work all day” and she replied with “how fun!” then she is being sarcastic which brings irony. Another great example is if a knight had a sword to protect him, and he somehow ends up dying by this sword, it would be ironic since the sword was made to protect him.

Because of Mrs. Mallard’s heart condition, everyone basically tiptoes around her and treats her carefully. Soon her sister along with a family friend discover that Mr. Mallard had been killed in an accident. With caution they gently confronted Mrs. Mallard and told her the heart breaking truth of her husband’s death. After crying her eyes out she locked herself in her room to be alone. Though she seemed terrified she also realizes that she has freedom she is truly saddened by his death, but she feels liberated and free for the first time. As Mrs. Mallard is having this epiphany her sister keeps trying to check up on her. Finally now that Mrs. Mallard has come out of her room, fully resolved, Mrs. Mallard and her sister decide to go down stairs. As this is happening Mr. Mallard enters the house healthy...

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...e Story of an Hour" perhaps has inspired huge number of women to fight their husbands if they feel like their marriage isn't as jolly as it must be.

Works Cited

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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 “; Literature critique.” Yahoo voices. Yahoo. Inc., 22 Apr 2012. Web17, Mar 2014.

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Larcher, Trat. “Irony in the ‘The story of an Hour.” Bright Hub Education. N.P., 17 Apr 2012. Web. .17 Mar 2014.