In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”, Chopin uses two different forms of irony: situational and dramatic. While both are forms of irony and can be used to create suspense, tension, or maintain an audience’s focus, Chopin expands its uses. Chopin uses situational irony to demonstrate how Mrs. Mallard is happy rather than devastated at her husband’s death, and how she is happy for her newfound freedom. Dramatic irony is taken beyond the audience simply knowing something a character does not, Chopin uses it to elaborate on the oppressive nature of the marriage.
Chopin utilizes situational irony to demonstrate how Mrs. Mallard is happy instead of being devastated. When informed by her sister of her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard, “wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment” (Par. 3). Mrs. Mallard is saddened by learning of her husband’s death as expected and goes to her room alone. However, upon arriving she goes to the window and her sadness is replaced as she becomes relieved. As she sat by the window, “The delicious breath of rain was in the air… The notes of a distant song… There were patches of blue sky…” (Pars. 5 & 6). The audience can observe that situational irony is in use as instead of the window bearing sadness, it almost appears to be showing a new beginning. Mrs. Mallard embraces the new freedom she has been given with the death of her husband.
Dramatic irony is manipulated by Chopin to not only give the audience a piece of information characters in the story don’t know but to illustrate the oppressive nature of the marriage. As Mrs. Mallard whispers to herself, her sister implores, “open the door — you will make yourself ill. What are you doing, Louise?” (Par. 18). Josephine believes her sister is harming herself when she is actually healing herself. Mrs. Mallard retorts, “Go away. I am not making myself ill” (Par. 19).
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Instead of harming herself or sinking into depression, Mrs. Mallard happily begins to acknowledge that she is now free from an unhappy marriage. As Mrs. Mallard accepts her new freedom and happiness, Mr. Mallard walks in alive and unharmed, leading to Mrs. Mallard’s death, “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease — of joy that kills” (Par. 24). However, the audience recognizes she did not die of happiness but of sadness. Mrs. Mallard died heartbroken at the realization that her newfound freedom was short-lived and now over. The audience can see this but the characters believe she died of joy.
Irony is defined as, “The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect” (Lexico). However, Chopin uses irony for much more as she uses it to demonstrate what Mrs. Mallard comes to feel. Irony is also used by Chopin to elaborate and build on the oppressive nature of Mrs. Mallard’s marriage
