What is The Irony and Reading Twists in 'The Story of an Hour'

Many stories needed to be long or extended to be able to tell the message. Kate Chopins an American author of short stories and novels who is also the author of “The Story of an Hour” conveys her message through this short literature with the use of irony. “The Story of an Hour' is a short story with great and interesting flow to read. What is the irony in 'The Story of an Hour'? It is reveled in symbolisms and hidden meanings in the message. The story may confuse some readers like what the story wants the readers to think. The story tells the one-hour events, feelings and emotions of a woman who is suffering from the loss of her husband but at the same time enjoying the fact that he is free from the ties of their relationship.

The setting of the story was in the Mallard residence where Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble. Josephine and Richards who were her sister and her husband’s friend told her that her husband, Brantley Mallard was one of the casualties of the railroad accident. Hearing this words Mrs. Mallard felt the grief and was left alone in her room.

The next events where the readers become confused. Though she knew the death of her husband she felt the freedom she wanted for so long. Mrs. Mallard is visualize her future without her husband. She does not seem to be sad but more like enjoying her life with her sister in the future. Her imagination was interrupted when her sister knocks the door assuming that she may hurt herself. She opened the door and let Josephine and Richards come it. But what made the readers, and Mrs. Mallard and her colleagues shook was the presence of Mr. Mallard. He entered the room and breaks the happiness of Mrs. Mallard. The doctors came and said that Mrs. Mallard died because of happiness.

 What is the Irony in 'The Story of an Hour'?

The story was fast-paced it tells one hour life of the main character Mrs. Mallard, she was told that her husband was dead, she was excited of her new life, and then she knew that her husband was still alive and the doctor thought that she died because of happiness. But what really killed her?

There's a situational irony introduced in the author's a stylistic way of words, 'She had failed of coronary heart illness of the joy that kills'. People around soothsaying this tragedy from the information about Mr. Mallard's death, no longer brilliant survival. Mrs. Mallard could not manipulate her feeling when they stressed the most vital matters. The lack of liberty and independence may have pressed her heart troubles in the first place. And they carry her lives in the end. 

After knowing that her husband was dead she feels grief and started to think what will be her life without him like what wives would feel when their husbands die. But Mrs. Mallard felt free because she can enjoy life along without her husband and it is a common case for couples who are not happy with their relationship but can divorce, so death of one another is only way of freedom.

Mrs. Mallard was dreaming of her life without her husband. She saw herself sitting in front of an open window which represents the new opportunities she can do being alone, the freedom she will have, and the silence and peace. Even though she did not have a partner anymore she still has her sister beside her who cares and worries about her.

When the story came to the last part where Mrs. Mallard saw her husband alive and drop dead, the readers thought that she died because of happiness that her heart can handle. But the truth is seeing her husband again rejects all the joy of being alone she was looking forward and had a heart attack.

Conclusion

Overall the story was great and it is recommendable for people who like twists and reading articles with irony. It is a literature that conveys the freedom and desires of woman that were denied because of the presence of men.