Contrast of Irony and Style in Kate Chopins The Story of...

Contrast of Irony and Style in Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour Kate Chopins 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. Mallards fragile health would ultimately lead to her demise, upon receiving the news of her husbands 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. Mallards reaction is anticipated, yet, She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same,†¦show more content†¦The plot is driven by Mrs. Mallards indulgence in her excitement for new found freedom. She is building layer upon layer of anticipation for the years to come. That the years indeed will be all hers, that they will, ...belong to her absolutely (171). When Brently Mallard returns home, the freedom given birth inside his wife dies with her, while it is believed that she , ...died of heart disease - of joy that kills (171). The stronger the use of irony, the more honest and true the character becomes to his or her feelings. The feelings all too often left unspoken are the ones of the most significance, and importance to the character. For example, in Jack Londons To Build a Fire, the main character drives all thoughts of the pearls of wisdom, and advice from his mind. He expects everything will go his way, but most importantly his manner of conducting his happy go lucky machismo blinds him from his deepest inner most instincts. These instincts which are supposed to save his life are repressed until he finds himself in the utmost of life or death predicaments. The man, who at one point says, Those old-timers were rather womanish, some of them... (a36), when referring to their persistence he not travel alone, is now a man faced with his inevitable death. The thought of himself lying stiff and dead surfaces, and even at this most critical stage he tries to repress it, only to find, Sometimes itShow MoreRel atedThe Story Of An Hour And Charlotte Perkins Gilman s The Yellow Wallpaper Essay1670 Words   |  7 PagesA Women’s Role in a Patriarchal Society During the 19th Century Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper are two of the first works of feminist literature in the 19th century. They were written at a time when a woman’s lot was characterized by gender inequality, with few legal, social, or political rights. In the 19th century women were constant victims of society’s ideals, defined as physically and intellectually weaker than men. Fathers and husbandsRead MoreBook Review : The Scrivener And Kate Chopin s Story Of An Hour 1581 Words   |  7 Pagesboth Herman Melville’s Bartleby, The Scrivener and Kate Chopin’s Story of an Hour. Both of them vividly illustrate the enigma that is humanity and how the rules and law do not facilitate individual development to a large extent. These fictional stories track the silent rebellion of the protagonists when the people around them fail to understand the significance of their presence and their passive resistance. Symbol ism, irony and a distinct style of speech significantly contribute to plots rootedRead MoreThe Necklace and Story of an Hour; a Comparison Essay2800 Words   |  12 PagesThe Necklace and Story of An Hour; A Comparison Megan Ford ENG125 Instructor Reljic August 19, 2012 At first glance, Chopin’s Story of an Hour (1894) and de Maupassant’s The Necklace (1884), appear to have very little in common. 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