One False Move

Kate Chopin's use of irony in her short story, "The Story of an Hour," stands in direct contrast to the subtle manner in which she tells the story. Strong use of irony in a short story yields more honesty in a character. She achieves this quality by immediately setting the premise, that Mrs. Mallard's fragile health would ultimately lead to her demise, upon receiving the news of her husband's death. Before an immediate assumption can be made about Mrs. Mallard, Chopin begins to start another path. This divergence is apparent at the point of the story where Mrs. Mallard's reaction is anticipated, yet, "She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance" (170). Mrs. Mallard does indeed grieve the loss of her husband, but, "When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone" (170). Chopin discharges the inner feelings of her character simultaneously with those that are expected of her.

Gloria D. Davis Kim Turnage English 113 February 7th 2005 "The Story of an Hour" Irony Analysis Irony is a useful device for giving stories many unexpected twists and turns. In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," irony is used as an effective literary device. Situational irony is used to show the reader that what is expected to happen sometimes doesn't (Irony). Dramatic irony is used to clue the reader in on something that is happening that the characters in the story do not know about (Irony). Irony is used throughout Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" through the use of situational irony and the use of dramatic irony (Bernardo).