Literary Analysis of Symbolism and Irony in “the Story of an Hour”

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The dramatic irony which is defined as, the people in the audience know something that the people in the story do not, was used to show things that wouldn't be a normal way to react. For a moment, Mrs. Mallard was super glad that her husband was dead. After her emotional roller coaster, she began whispering “‘Free! Body and soul free!’” (Chopin). She began to feel a different wave of emotions overwhelm her. “There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that brief moment of illumination” (Chopin). From this quote, it was expressed that private will is someone’s individual opinion, that it isn’t the same for everyone. Also, that each fellow creature should be on the same level and that each opinion matters to have a healthy and successful relationship. Mrs. Mallard didn't realize that she felt oppressed until her husband was taken from her. She didn't hate him for what he put her through, but she realized that she was going to be better off without him. Her husband was blind to the idea that he was oppressing his wife, like most men are in the moment. When something like this occurs, the lesson that is learned after looking back on the situation is the most important. For Mrs. Mallard, this meant learning that she would be happier without her husband. So, when he returned “she died of heart disease – the joy that kills” (Chopin). It was assumed that she was so overjoyed that she died. Although, in this situation she was over grieving her husband’s death and realized what her life had in store for her, and then by seeing him all of her feelings returned.

The different examples of symbolism and the dramatic irony in “The Story of an Hour” were used to portray the inner feelings of Mrs. Mallard and the significance of the events that occurred. These events included Mrs. Mallards heart condition, the chair in the room, the spring weather outside the window and Mrs. Mallard’s feelings of joy that her husband was dead. These events were included to show how Mrs. Mallard lived her life and exactly how her life changed after her husband was gone. She was able to portray everything she had felt in her life and the idea that it was going to get better now that she could show all of her feelings and live her own life. Mrs. Mallard was no longer dependent on a man in her life, even if it meant that her life ended at the end of the short story.

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Works Cited

Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” Virginia Commonwealth University. Web. February 16, 2016 .