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Joshua McMillian ENG 113-970IN Ms. Wright 09 September 2012 The Irony and Symbolism of the Heart Most of the story seems to be symbolic because the author uses symbols such as an open window and spring to describe Mrs. Mallards feelings as she was absorbing the new freedom that she felt. The end of the story is ironic because when Mrs. Mallard finds out that her husband is really not dead she dies of joy that kills (Chopin 68). The author probably mentioned Mrs. Mallards heart trouble in the first paragraph because it helps the reader better understand why everyone is so careful about telling her that her husband is dead. It is essential for the narrator to note that she has heart trouble because, without this piece of information, it is very difficult to understand why the situation turned out the way it did. Mrs. Mallard changes from grieving over her husbands death to rejoicing because she realizes that she is free from his control for the rest of her life. Upon hearing of her husbands death, Mrs. Mallard begins to weep hysterically and she continues to grieve as she goes up to her room allowing no one to follow her. As she goes to her room and sits in her armchair, she begins to look out the open window and she also begins to notice the outdoors. Soon her grief begins to leave and the open window becomes a symbol of freedom. The spring time is also symbolic of new life to Mrs. Mallard as she smells the fresh rain and sees the new growth on the trees. As the text states, she realizes that There would be no powerful will bending her in blind persistence (Chopin 68). Mrs. Mallard continues to exclaim that she is free, and she finally realizes that she can live life for herself now that her husband is dead.

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After experiencing the moments of freedom, Mrs. Mallard opens her bedroom door and walks down the stairs along with her sister. When she reaches the bottom of the staircase, her husband walks in the door and she drops dead. This part of the story is very ironic because most women would have been excited that their husbands were alive. It is also ironic because people would think that Mrs. Mallard would die after she finds out that her husband is dead; nevertheless, she actually dies because her husband is found to be alive. However, Mrs. Mallard must have realized that she was still under the control of her husband, and her dreams of freedom and joy for the rest of her life were vanity.

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Works Cited Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. An Introduction to Literature Ed. Sylvan Barnet, William Burto, and William E. Cain. 16th Ed. Boston: Pearson, 2011. 67-68. Print.