University of Basra

College of Education for Humanities

Department of English

The use of irony by Kate Chopin in “The story of an Hour “and “The storm “

By

Muna Jwad Jassim

Supervised by

Assist. Lect. Shahad Hisham Khudher

June 2020

‫بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬

)٥(‫)علم االنسان ما لم يعلم‬٤( ‫)الذي علم بالقلم‬٣(‫)اقرأ وربك االكرم‬٢(‫)خلق اإلنسان من علق‬١(‫( اقرأ باسم ربك الذي خلق‬

‫صدق هللا العلي العظيم‬

)٥-١ ‫(العلق‬
 Dedication

I dedicate this to my mother and father, who help me to advance in my life and in my career….

Allah bless you and protect you.

To my sisters and brother….I love you all and I ask Allah to safe and protect you. Everywhere you go, I
wish you the success.

And for those whom I love and will l love , and for me myself.

If this research is a success , I dedicate it everyone who taught me even a single letter, or simply word….
 Acknowledgements

Word are not enough to express how grateful I am to my supervisor, assist. Lect. Shahad Hisham
Khudher. Her comments and precious guidance have been indispensably valuable.

Very special thanks to my teaching staff in the department of English, college Education for Humanities,
at the University of Basra.

I also acknowledge my colleagues’ help and friend ‘advice for their contribution to reach such this level, I
hope Allah bless them all.

I record my sincere gratitiude to my family for their love, patience and support during the period of
preparing this work .

Finally, everyone loves me…..I love you, too…..

Contents

Dedication …………………………………………………………….iii

Acknowledgement……………………………………………………..iv

Abstract……………………………………………………………………….v

Contents ………………………………………………………………………vi

Section one

1.1 Introduction
1.2 Irony in literature
1.3 Definition and types of irony
1.4 Irony in Fiction
1.5 Irony in Theatre

Section two

2.1summary of “The story of an Hour “

2.2Identification

2.3Analysis

2.3.1 Dramatic irony

2.3.2 Situational irony

2.3.3Verbal irony

2.4 summary of “ The storm “

2.4.1 Identification

2.4.2Verbal irony

2.4.3Dramatic irony

2.5 The conclusion

Section Three

3.1The message of Kate Chopin

3.2The effect of irony on stories

• References
V

Abstract

Irony can be a stylistic device in a text to say one thing but meaning another. In this research paper will
explain about irony. The first section includes the introduction, irony in literature, definition of Irony,
types of it, irony in Fiction, irony in Theatre.

Section two includes summary “The story of an Hour “, identification to types of irony in “The story of an
Hour “, analysis of types irony in the story , summary of the story “The storm" ,identification of types of
irony in “The storm “,The conclusion of two stories. Section three includes the message of Kate Chopin
and the effect of irony on two stories.

Section one

1.1Introduction

General definitions of the term irony As a first approach to the term irony one needs to take into
account several general definitions of Irony . This should help the reader to get a basic idea of what
irony is about. Without this basic knowledge it might prove difficult to realize subtle and sophisticated
forms of irony. “Irony is a mode of discourse for conveying meanings different from _ and usually
opposite to _ the professed or ostensible ones. There are several kinds of irony, though they fall into
two major categories: situational and verbal. All irony, however, depends for its success on the
exploitation of the distance between words or events and their CONTEXTS.

What we learn from this first definition of irony is that irony is a way of saying or doing one thing in
order to convey the opposite, or at least something different, of what one actually wants to say or do.
Furthermore the definition on says that there are basically two different types of irony, namely
situational and verbal. (Philips, 2007, P.4)

However, it seems fairly clear that most forms of irony involved the perception or awareness of a
discrepancy or incongruity between words and their meaning, or between actions and their results, or
between appearance and reality. The two basic kinds of irony are verbal and irony of situational. This
second definitions goes a bit further than the first by saying that there might also be a discrepancy
between appearance and reality. It also differentiates between verbal and situational irony. (Ibid)

A contradiction or incongruity between appearance or expectation and reality. A discrepancy may exist
between what someone says and what he or she actually means, between what someone expects to
happen and what really does happen, or between what appears to be true and what actually is true.
Several types of irony exist, all of which may be classified under one of three broad headings: verbal
irony, situational irony, and structural irony.

The last definition quoted is very much the same as the other two. But it comprises one special and
important element. Unlike the other two it does not into three. Besides verbal and situational irony it
establishes a third category: structural irony. (Philipps , 2007, P.4)

If one wanted to summarize all the definitions given above, one might get a sentence like this : “ The
basic feature of every irony is a contrast between a reality and an appearance “ If this is taken for
granted it becomes clear that any kind of deception , lies, hypocrisy, etc., could then also be classified as
irony because, as in irony, there is a discrepancy between appearance and reality, too, But as deception
is not commonly thought of as irony, it becomes clear from this that irony must have at least one
constituent part distinguishing it from deception . With deception the intention is to conceal the real
meaning or reality. With irony it is the intention of the speaker (The ironist) that the real meaning of his
words or actions is some how revealed. This very feature is another characteristic of irony because “
irony is commonly employed as a “ wink" that the listener or reader is expected to notice so that he or
she may be ‘ in on the secret ‘ .’An irony that goes unnoticed, after all, fails to achieve its effect ‘.(Ibid)

2
1.2 Irony in literature

Literature is complex, This means that you can not take a single view of it. In literature as in real life
there are always two or more sides to a question because the complexity of different elements makes
up reality. When you read factual writing you expect it to tell you one kind of truth or to express one
point of view. Literature is different: it presents the complex nature of reality. So , for example, you
can not say that the painful side of love in Wuthering Heights is ‘wrong ‘ because it is a real part of the
world of the text, just as real as the affection and attraction which are also part of love in the text. When
you study literature, then , you have to accept the complex nature of reality and understand two or
more sides to every experience. The effect of this complexity, which is called irony.)Coyle, Peck,
&Marsh, 2001 , P.84)

"Irony exists where there are two or more related meanings or attitudes to be understood from what is
written in the text” . Irony is the relationship between these different meanings and attitudes in a work
of literature. (Ibid)

Jane Austen's novels show clear examples of irony. Here are accounts of each kind drawn from Emma
and Pride and Prejudice. Towards the end of Emma we discover that two of the main characters, Jane
Fairfax and Frank Churchill, have been secretly engaged all through the novel. This revelation puts two
versions of the truth to gather suddenly: Jane and Frank have no particular relationship ( as they have
pretended all a long); Jane and Frank are in love and engaged to be married ( which is suddenly revealed
at the end). The effect of suddenly comparing this revelation with all the events we have already read
about is to make us reinterpret everything these two characters have said and done in the novel from a
new point of view. A new ironical light is cast over the whole text, and we realise how two _ sided the
world of the novel is: the two versions of the truth were there all along, but our new knowledge gives a
new interpretation to old events. The surprising revelation of their relationship, then, floods the whole
text with a new ironic light of understanding. The effect, typical of irony, is to make us feel that we
understand the complexity of life. Life is not as simple as we thought: it is a complex reality, ironically
capable of two paradoxical interpretations.(Coyle, Peck, & Marsh, 2001, P.90).

1.3 Definition and types of irony

Irony :is involved the true meaning of the words is contrary to the apparent meaning.
(Robinson&pretty,2014,P.192).
Verbal irony: is a phrase or sentences becomes ironic when a person says one thing and means another
such as: “ Tessa called Jim's stupid plan “ very clever “.(Rollins,2010,P.41).

Verbal irony: the audience knows things are reverse of what they seem. The character knows things are
opposite of what they seem. Tension between what is said and what is meant. (Armstrong,2014,P.34).

This is example about verbal irony:

Oedipus: you have lost your power, stone _ blind, stone deaf,_ senses, eye blinds as stone!

Tiresias: I pity you, flinging at me the very insults each man here will fling at you so soon blind.

Oedipus: lost in the night, endless night that nursed you!

You can not hurt me or anyone else who see the light _ you can never touch me.

Tiresias: True, it is not your fate to fall at my hands. Apollo is quite enough, and he will take some pains
to work this out.

A scene in Oedipus the king between Oedipus and Tire size, includes examples of bitter verbal irony,
most of them focus on the contrasting ideas of sight and blindness. The blind seer Tiresias serves here as
the voice of the divine world; Oedipus speaks from the limited human perspectives. He is unaware not
only he has fulfilled the Oracle given to Laius, but that he will soon make himself blind. (Stanfield, 2000,
P.72).

Situational irony: is a set of a result is the opposite of what might be expected. (Rollins, 2010,P.41)

In other words, situational irony: the audience and the character do not know things are not what they
seem. Both the audience and character notice the truth at the same time. Tension between what is
expected and what occurs. (Armstrong,2014,P.34).

Example of situational irony from literature:

The Harry potter series is one of the most popular novel series having employed situational irony.
Through seven novels, the audience believes that Harry can kill Voldemort, the evil lord However, the
audience is thrown off guard near the end of this series when it becomes clear that Harry must allow the
evil lord to kill him, so that Voldemort's soul could become mortal once again. Hence, Harry allows
himself to be killed in order to defeat Voldemort, which is exactly, the opposite of the audience’s
expectations. By using situational irony, Rowling has done a great job of adding a twist to the story to
further a complies conflict. (Garments, 2018, P.3)
Another example about situational irony: when Sheridan makes out of the ironic situation. The audience
knows, but Charles does not know, that he is really taking to his uncle about his uncle. Charles suggests
that he will repay the loan when sir Oliver dies:

CHARLES: Though at the same time the old fellow has been so liberal to me, that I give you my word I
should be very sorry to hear that anything had happened to him.

SIR OLIVERS: Not more than/should, I assure you. But the bond you mention happens to be just the
worst security you could offer me _ for I might live to a hundred and never recover the principal.

CHARLES S:Oh, you, you would _ the moment Sir Oliver dies, you know you would come on me for the
money.

SIR OLIVER: Then I believe I should be the most unwelcome dun you ever had in your life.

CHARLES s: What! I suppose you are afraid now that Sir Oliver is too good a Life?

SIR OLIVER: No, indeed, I am not; though I have heard he is as hale and healthy as any man of his years
in Christendom.

CHARLES s: There again you are misinformed. No, no , the climate has hurt him considerably, poor Uncle
Oliver! Yes, he breaks apace, I am told _ and is so much altered lately, that his nearest relations don't
know him.

SIR OLIVER: No! hi ! hi! So much altered lately, that his nearest relations don't know him! _ that's droll,
egad_ ha ! hi ! hi!

CHARLES S: Ha! Ha !_ you are glad to hear that, little Premium?

SIR OLIVER: No, no, I am not.

The difference Sheridan exploits is between what the audience and Sir Oliver know, and what Charles
does not know. This enables Sir Oliver to speak with deliberate double meanings, while Charles speaks
with unconscious double meanings, and the writer gets the most amusement out of the complexity of
knowledge and ignorance. (Coyle, Peck, & Marsh, 2001, P.91).

Dramatic irony: depends upon the audience knowing something that the play's characters do not know.
In other words, when the audience knows things are opposite of what they seem. The character does
not know things are opposite of what they seem. Tension between what the audience knows and what
the character knows. (Armstrong, 2014, P.34).
Shakespeare is a master of such irony. Shakespeare was fond of the device: in Measure for Measure a
low _ life character called Lucio, in conversation with a friend, Slanders the Duke of Vienna _ not
knowing (as the audience does) the friend is the Duke in disguise. In Tom Stoppard ‘s Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern are Dead the title characters do not know what the audience knows: that they are
characters in a play called Hamlet and that they come to a sticky end. When Rosencrantz, and
Guildenstern discuss what's going on and what's best to do, their dialogue is ironic because we (the
audience)know that no matter what they decided, they have no control over their fate _ they are stuck
in someone else's play. (Robinson &pretty, 2014 , P.192).

Another example occurs in Pantomime where the villain stands behind the hero a and tries to kill him.
The hero asks the audience what is wrong, unaware of the villain ‘s presence. Children in the audience
are roused to screaming excitement by the ironic difference between what they know and the hero's
ignorance.

Most literary texts use this device, often in extended fashion, as in this next example :

In the play The School For Scandal by R. B . Sheridan, Charles surface expects to inherit his rich uncle
Oliver’s fortune. In the meantime he arranges to borrow money from a money _ lender called Mr.
premium. Uncle Oliver pretends to be Mr. premium and comes to arrange the loan. He asks Charles
about his financial prospects. (Coyle, Peck, & Marsh, 2001, P. 90).

1.4Irony in Fiction

The concept of irony has undergone along and complex evolution, assuming new meanings without
necessarily losing earlier ones. Further, irony in any one of its manifestations is so bound up with the
emotional response of an artist to a created situation, and of his audience both to the situational and to
the resulting irony, as to be very difficult to isolate. (Thompson, 1948, P.3)

The ironic novel may be either popular or literary. In the former case you will generally find the triumph
of a hero or heroine; in the latter, the defeat of a villain or villainess. In the former the effect is romantic
(a happy ending; in the latter, tragic. (H.UZZELL, 1945, P.154).

The effect is the one or the other by reason of fates interfering with the events, and when fate is the
boss of the non _human forces at work in a complication. For some reason, beyond our Ken fate seems
to intervene in human affairs most often when he (she or it!) is up to mischief and less often when
moved benevolently; in any case writers seem to trail fate through human disasters much more
convincingly than through human triumphs specialist in fate in tragedy, Thomas Hardy; in comedy; O.
Henry. Novels written with sustained implacable a aloofness from life in the spirit of ironic comedy, like
those by Anatole France, are among the best and least popular of man's creative works, which is itself
one of the richest of ironies. (H.UZZELL, 1945, P.156).
The greatest of ironies in the English novel is unquestionably Thomas Hardy. Playing pranks with human
lives was his specialty ; he titled a collection of his shorter pieces, “ life's little Ironies “. Hardy’s critical
have made much of the “ atmosphere “ of the Hardy novels, alleging the poetic theory that the somber,
baleful Sussex Downs dominated. His design was more profound than this: He sat in with the gods, not
the weather man. His scenery, at which he was a good hand, was mainly decorative backdrop, and here
and there he did not pause at a beautifully wrought pathetic fallacy. His best _known novel Tess of the
D’Urbervilles , displays one of the nearest ironic patterns in all literature. (H.UZZELL, 1945,P.157).

1.6 Irony in Theatre

Irony , to be sure, does not belong solely to the theatre or only to modernity . It's connections with
language and speech alone, not to mention the several philosophical context and perspectives, are
so fundamental as to insure an ironic presence in discourse generally as well as in literary and
theatrical artistry. Still, theatre and drama incorporate irony in notably singular ways, and the
settings of modernism and of the contemporary stage have provided exemplary occasions, not only
for the ironic mode to be usefully employed but also for it to be reassessed with regard to it's
notable tendencies and strengths as well as potential immediacy of application. Irony in the theatre
is, of course, an ancient as well as trans historical phenomenon. What, again, could be more starkly
ironic than Oedipus setting out to locate the cause of the plague on his city, complete with his self-
description as “ luck's child “? Oedipus, in his narrowing quest, enacts and also embodies an ironic
fate: his personal role in events is built into his history, as is his blindness to the circumstances. In
another epoch, the terrible irony of Lear's turning against his favorites child could scarcely produce
amore cataclysmic outcome And yet, Irony in its modern iterations, and for characters in theatre
more recently, is not the same as it was for Sophocles or Shakespeare. Modernity has cast irony on
it's own terms, if not in its own image, since the late nineteenth century, and in this regard the
theatre continues to reconfigure both the capabilities and limitations of the ironic, referring to this “
master “ trope in ways that, perhaps ironically, have a tendency to interrogate it's own versatility
and power of application or allusion. (Storm, 2011, P.208).

Irony in the theatre can, of course, be verbal or situational; it can refer pointedly to a given state of
affairs or simply involve a passing observation, just as in a novel. With respect to structural
consideration, though, theatrical irony tends to assume the shape of a process in flux in relation to
plot. From this perspective, including the fact that drama must demonstrate rather than describe,
the ratios of cause and effect can take on a particularly ironic aspect, complementing the tendency
of dramatic action to advance in accord with innate and opposing stresses. A play may feature a
single event that has a notable aspect of irony or that portends an ironic outcome- the appearance
of Hilda, the arrival of March banks at the Morell household, the visit of the father to Madame
pace's establishment- but a play's total ironic pattern will also include the dramatic outcomes of
these occasions, the ironically “ destined “ consequences of a precipitating event that contains, in
effect, the very qualities that will play out in the ensuing drama. Theatrical action, especially in
regard to this kinetic and forward- directed quality, can enforce an ironic impression as effectively as
the dramaturgical structure per se. (Storm, 2011, P.208).
Section two

2.1 Summary of “The story of an Hour “

Louise Mallard has heart trouble, so she must be informed carefully about her husband ‘s death. Her
sister, Josephine, tells her the news Louise's husband's friend, Richards learned about a railroad disaster
when he was in the news paper office and saw Louise's husband , Brantley, on the List of those killed.
Louise begins sobbing when Josephine tells her of Brantley death and goes upstairs to be alone in her
room.

Louise sits down and looks out an open window. She sees trees, smells approaching rain, and hears a
peddler yelling out what he's selling. She hears someone singing as well as the sounds of sparrows, and
there are fluffy white clouds in the sky. She is young, with lines around her eyes. Still crying, she gazes
into the distance. She feels apprehensive and tries to suppress the building emotions within her, but
can't. She begins repeating the word Free! To herself over and over again. Her heart beats quickly and
she feels very warm.

Louise knows she'll cry again when she sees Brantley ‘s corpse. His hands were tender, and he always
looked at her lovingly. But then she imagines the years ahead, which belong only to her now, and
spreads her arms out joyfully with anticipation. She will be free, on her own without anyone to oppress
her. She thinks that all women and men oppress one another even if they do it out of kindness, Louise
knows that she often felt love for Brantley but tells herself that none of that matters anyone. She feels
ecstatic with her new found sense of independence.

Josephine comes to her door, begging Louise to come out, warning her that she'll get sick if she doesn't.
Louise tells her to go away. She fantasizes about all the days and years ahead and hopes that she lives
along life. Then she opens the door, and she and Josephine start walking down the stairs, where
Richards is waiting.

The front door unexpectedly opens, and Brantley comes in. He hadn't been in the train accident or even
aware that one had happened. Josephine screams, and Richards tries unsuccessfully to block Louise
from seeing him. Doctors arrive and pronounce that Louise died of a heart attack brought on by
happiness.
2.2Identification

Dramatic irony Situational irony Verbal irony

“ I beg; open the door- you will
make yourself ill “
“ When the doctors came they
said she had died of heart
disease _of joy that kills “ Her
pulse beat fast, and the
coursing blood warmed and
relaxed every inch of her body.
“Wept at once, with sudden “ The story of an Hour “
wild abandonment “
She did not stop to ask if it were “she said it over and over under
or were not a monstrous joy the breath free , free, free!”
that held her. The front door
unexpectedly opens, and
Brantley comes in.

Mr. Mallard lives and Mrs. Mallard dies. That's Situational irony.

Josephine is worried that Mrs. Mallard has locked herself in her room and is making herself ill. She is
actually in there contemplating how wonderful her life's going to be. That's both situational and
dramatic irony.

Mrs. Mallard dies from the shock of seeing her husband. The doctors say she died from “ the joy that
kills “ .we know Mrs. Mallard is no where near full of joy. That's dramatic irony.

2.3Analysis

2.3.1Dramatic irony

Dramatic irony is also used in “ The story of an Hour “ through Mrs. Mallard ‘s realization that she is
free from her husband. While Mrs. Mallard was alone in her room she realized that she would no longer
be bound to her husband but rather free to do what ever she should choose. However, on one else in
the story knew this; they all believed that she was very sad and depressed. Josephine, a woman in the
house, even thought Mrs. Mallard was making herself sick. She said, “ l beg; open the door _you will
make yourself ill “ . She did not know that Mrs. Mallard was actually fine.

Another example of dramatic irony is when Mrs. Mallard dies. When she finds out that her husband is
still alive she dies from an immediate heart attack. The narrator of the story says; “ When the doctors
came they said she had died of heart disease _of joy that kills.

2.3.2Situational irony

Situational irony is used in “ The story of an Hour “ through Mrs. Mallard ‘s reaction to her husband ‘s
death. When she first heard the news of her husband ‘s death, Mrs. Mallard,” wept at once, with
sudden, wild abandonment “ . It appeared to everyone in the house that she was very sad and went
upstairs to be alone in her room. This is atypical reaction after having just lost a loved one. However,
once Mrs. Mallard is alone in her room, we as the reader witness that she is not saddened by the loss of
her husband but rather relieved. She saw beyond that bitter moment along procession of years to come
that belong to her absolutely, and she opened and spread her arms out to there in welcome. It turns out
that Mrs. Mallard is actually happy that her husband has died and instead looks for ward to her up
coming years being free.

2.3.3Verbal irony

The final irony used is verbal irony. Verbal irony is found in the title, “ The story of an Hour “ .There
words suggest a short period of time in which usually not a lot of events occur. However, in this story an
hour seems like a lifetime.

2.4Summary of “ The storm “

A four _year old boy named Bibi and his father Bobinot are stuck at Friedheimer's store while a storm
gathers. Bibi is worried about his mother, Calixta, who is at home alone, but they resolve to wait out the
storm at the store. Bobinot buys a can of shrimp for Calixta for when they return. It's one of her favorite
foods.

Back home, Calixta is busy with house work, but eventually notices the approaching storm. She hurries
to shut the windows and boring in laundry that's hanging out to dry. That's when Alcee, an old
acquaintance of Calixta's, rides up on his horse, asking for shelter from the storm.

Calixta welcomes him. She is quite worried about her son and husband, who did not arrive home yet.
But that worry gives way to passion, as Calixta and Alcee reignite their old flame, and ultimately end up
having sex while protected by a raging storm that makes it impossible for anyone to leave wherever they
are. Much of this encounter is shown from Calixta's perspective . Afterward, Alcee rides a way on his
horse and Calixta laughs with joy as she says good bye.

Bibi and Bobinot arrive home after the storm. Calixta is thrilled to see them gafe, and Bobinot is relieved
he doesn't have to offer any excuses. When he presents Calixta with the shrimp, she is overjoyed, and
the family enjoy a merry dinner, full of laughing. At home, Alcee writes to his wife clarisses, saying that if
she and the children are enjoying Biloxi they should stay there for a while longer. Clarisses reads the
letter, and decides that even though she misses her husband, she is enjoying a kind of independence she
hasn't know since she got married. She will stay in Biloxi for a while longer.

The story ends with the narrator saying the storm has passed and everyone is happy.

2.4.1Identification

Verbal irony Dramatic irony

 “ Remember is Assumption “ “ Seemed to restore the
pleasant liberty of her maiden
days “
“ Enough sense to come in out
of a cyclone “

2.4.2Verbal irony

Alcee asks Calixta if she “ remember in Assumption “ . This refers to an old sexual encounter of theirs,
where they similarly gave in to their basat desires to plump the depths of ecstasy. The irony here is that
Alcee is making a double entrendre, an “ assumption “ that Calixta- who has a husband and a child- will
want to repeat the same acts of passion that the two embarked on all those years back in the town of
Assumption.

"Enough sense to come in out of a cyclone “

When Calixta worries out loud about the safety of her husband and child out in the storm, Alcee
responds, “ Let us hope, Calixta, that Bobinot ‘s got sense enough to come in out of a cyclone “ . It's an
ironic line, because it undercuts Calixta's maternal worry with logic, but also because Alcee also had the
sense to come in out of a cyclone, and it led to the current seduction.

2.4.3Dramatic irony

When clarisse receives a letter from her husband Alcee at the end of the story telling her to feel free to
stay in Biloxi with the children for another month if she wants to, she welcomes the opportunity as, her
first free breath since her marriage, that “ seemed to restore the pleasant liberty of her maiden days “ .

The irony here is that clarisse is enjoying the freedom of being a way from her husband as much as Alcee
has enjoyed the freedom of being a way from her.

2.5The conclusion

The contrast between “ The story of an Hour “ and “ The storm “

The irony is the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite,
typically for humorous or emphatic effect. Kate Chopin in her stories: the storm and the story of an hour
use three types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic irony to make the story interesting. Every
single sentence in the two stories is arguably ironic. There are several similarities between both works
also. These similarities are the theme is tied to repressed feelings or desires of a women and an intense
moment of freeness. Mrs. Mallard and Calixta a discover their freedom and, hence, the endings are
tragic and triumphant.
To start with, In both stories the author ironically uses the weather and environmental. Surrounding to
give opposite meanings to a different situational. In the story of an hour Mrs. Mallard is enjoying the
good weather and fresh breeze yet she is supposed to be mourning (cholin1998).While in the story of
the storm is connected to life's happiness (chopin1996).When Mrs. Mallard knows about her husband
death. This symbolized a new beginning for her. She hoped to live a long life full of freedom. It is ironical
when Mrs. Mallard dies at the end of the story after realizing that the man is not dead yet she cried at
first when she got the news of his death.

It is ironical how both stories end one as a triumphant and the other as a tragedy. Calixta seems to be
more loving and happy after cheating on her husband. What is seen as evils by the society finally turns
to be good. What we thought could destroy a marriage makes it more enjoyable. Mrs. Mallard on the
other side is killed by good news. The news meant to cause sorrow brought happiness while vice versa
caused death.

The two stories expresses women's journey towards freedom. In “ The storm “ , Calixta is bitter and
mean all the time until the incident with Alcee. This freedom affected her so much as did it affect Mrs.
Mallard in “ The story of an Hour “ . The two characters are freed from the chain of being ordinary
wives. The endings are tragic and triumphant. It is ironical that they are both married to men whom
they love . They both seem to be happy when the husband is not return. It is ironical that Calixta is
worried about her child and husband being out in the storm and that makes her appear to be even more
deceitful. The mere fact that she could be worried about her own family while committing adultery.
Calixta remembers that she is the mother of a child, and still it does not stop her from having the affair
with Alcee. The author portrays Calixta and Mrs. Mallard as wives living in repression and still loving
their husbands. However, this impression is soon unmasked when Mrs. Mallard sorrow turn into joy a
short while after receiving the deadly news and Calixta cheat on her husband when he is out to the store
with their son.

In both stories, the author uses dramatic irony to portray the negative side of the character which other
actors do not know. For example, in the story of the hour Josephine is worried when the sister locks
herself in the house. She was afraid that something. Terrible might ensure her yet Mrs. Mallard was
celebrating the death of her husband. In the story of the storm, Bibi and Bobinot though that Calixta will
be so much scared by the storm in contrast she took advantages of it.

In both stories, it is ironical that the two women characters do not care about the welfare of their loved
ones. Calixta is cheating on her spouse when he is so much worried about her. He buys her a gift to
show the love that he has for her while Calixta does the opposite. Mrs. Mallard rejoices her husband s
death and she termed it as the beginning of free life. In both stories, the author uses irony to describe
what women went through during that period. Women were not regarded as mens equals and the male
species dominated the female giving the no freedom and liberty. The women are willing to enjoy
freedom even though it killed them.
Section Three

3.1The message of Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin discuss women's role in the society. In the short stories, Chopin reveals a deep rooted
problem women faced in marital relationships. Even though, Chopin did not think of herself as a
feminist, she often depicted women in unequal roles in their marriages. As in “ The story of an Hour “
and “ The storm “ she plotted the idea that women were oppressed through unhappy marriages.

Through this idea, she voiced that marriages were institutions that put restrains upon women.

Husband held the power and often imposed their will onto their wives. The wives had no other choice
but to bend to the husband's will. Even if the husband were gentle men, women had no control over
their lives, they were slaves whose only main priority was to live for their owner ( husband) rather than
themselves. Thus, it brought an unhealthy balance between both in society and marriage.

3.2The effect of irony on stories

Irony in Kate Chopin ‘s “ The story of an Hour “ and “ The storm “ is Avery dull and boring story can be
made into a great story simply by adding in something that is unexpected to happen. When the
unexpected is used in literature it is known as irony. An author uses irony to shock the reader by adding
a twist to the story. The author of “ The story of an Hour “ and “ The storm “ is Kate Chopin. Her use of
irony in the story is incredibly done more than once. Irony is thinking or believing some event will
happen but in return the unexpected or opposite occurs. Kate Chopin uses two types of irony in this
two short stories. Situational irony refers to the opposite of what is supposed to happen, and dramatic
irony occurs when the audience or reader knows something that the rest of the characters in the story
do not know. Kate Chopin does a great job in placing irony into this short story and makes the reader
understand that the unexpected happens in life.

There are few characters in “ The story of an Hour “ , but they all play an important part. The characters
are Mrs. Mallard, Josephine, Richard, and Brantley Mallard. Mrs. Mallard and Brantley Mallard are
married and live together in the house that the story takes place in. Josephine is Mrs. Mallard ‘s sister
and she is the one who would break the news to her about Brantley Mallards death in the railroad
accident. Finally Richards who is Brantley Mallards good friend, and he is the one who found out about
Brantley Mallards death.

The setting of the story takes place in Mallards house. It seems to me that the house is old and very
comfortable. I think this because after Mrs. Mallard finds out about her husband ‘s death she goes to
her room and the narrator says “ There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable , roomy armchair.
Into this she sank “ .This shows that the furniture takes a while before it can be worn is so when sat on it
will sink in. In the story of the storm, Bibi and Bobinot though that Calixta will be so much scared by the
storm in contrast she took advantage of it.
Throughout the whole short story “The story of an Hour “ the reader see's irony but the best usage of
irony occurs toward the end of the story in the last few paragraphs. As the reader reads the story they
notice that Mrs. Mallard ‘s husband Brantley Mallard died in a railroad disaster. The reader also finds
out that Mrs. Mallard has a heart trouble and great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible.

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