Life has an irony all of its own, what is wished for is not often got, and what is said is not always meant. In “The Story of An Hour”, Kate Chopin illustrates the irony of Louise Mallard’s life in only one hour. Throughout the story dramatic, situational and verbal irony are strategically positioned to keep the reader’s attention. There are many cases throughout “The Story of An Hour” where the reader has more knowledge about a character or a situation than the characters involved.
For example, Josephine, Richards and the doctor all consider that Louise was killed because with the condition of her brittle heart, the shock of her husband’s death would be too much for her to handle. Though, the reader knows that Louise was overjoyed to know her husband was no longer alive and that she was now “free, free, free” (Page 53). As the story continues on, the news that Mr. Mallard is actually alive is delivered to Louise after only an hour of knowing about his death. The doctor believes that due to the shock of the news her husband is still alive, she dies.
When in fact, the reader has access to Louise’s thoughts and recognises that she died because her dreams of freedom and independence were withdrawn from her after discovering her husband was still alive. In addition, the characters believe Louise has been happy all of her life with Mr. Mallard. Regardless, the reader has knowledge that Mrs. Mallard is truly unhappy with her marriage, as Louise is often dreaming of a life where she is unmarried, happy and has the chance for opportunities she has not had before.
Saying one thing but meaning something else is often a reoccurring incident in “The Story of An Hour”. There is evidence to support that verbal irony plays an important role in how the story ending. In fact, at the beginning of the story we learn that Louise Mallard has a heart condition, yet as the story continues the reader learns the condition resembles Louise’s repression. Mrs. Mallard finds staying in her marriage a painful act, but during the time period the story is set in, she must realize she will abstained from freedom.
Additionally, the last line of the story states that “of the joy that kills” (page 54), this states that the character’s believed that Louise’s death was due to the heartbreak from her husband’s death. However, the reader is aware that the news that Mr. Mallard is still alive, destroys Louise inside because her freedom has been revoked. Furthermore, while Louise was in her room looking out the window she whispered about freedom to herself, indicating the excitement of her husband’s passing.
The idea of freedom overtakes Louise’s body and she becomes powerless to stopping the possession. Yet, in order for Louise to be free, she cannot lose her idea of freedom. Often in life one thing is expected to happen, but the opposite of what is wanted to occur, usually takes place. For example, in Kate Chopin’s short story “The Story of An Hour” Louise Mallard is expected to be mourning the loss of her husband, but when Louise’s sister tries to comfort her, she dismisses herself to her bedroom, telling her sister to “Go away.
I am not making myself ill” (page 54). As well, when Mr. Mallard entered the house he heard Josephine’s cry over her sister’s sudden death. Furthermore, at the end of the story the unravelling of Mr. Mallard who was supposed to be dead, causes his wife’s death. It is the opposite of how life is supposed to work, he starts out dying but ends up alive. Conversely, the reader is aware that her loss of freedom is what terminates her. Although Mrs.
Mallard’s friends and family try so hard to protect her and her fragile heart at the beginning of the story, it ends up being only a matter of time before she is awoken from her dream of freedom. Throughout Kate Chopin’s “The Story of An Hour”, Louise is seen as a happy, loving wife to the characters in the story. While with verbal, dramatic, and situational irony shown throughout the our after the news of her Mr. Mallards death, the reader is aware that Louise does not fit the assumption of the ideal wife. In fact, Louise’s necessity to be free, was what killed her in the end.