Situational Irony In Kate Chopin's The Story Of An Hour

Ever hit a point of anger where everything is now just funny, so tired and yet fully awake? How about a sadness so deep that one can only feel joy, only being able to look at optimistically the situation? This is exactly the feeling that Kate Chopin is trying to portray in her story “The Story of an Hour.” This feeling is portrayed by a woman who has a heart condition, so when she learns of her husband's death, she is first filled with grief, but then overwhelmed with joy. The main literary elements used to illustrate this are situational irony along with imagery and symbolism. A good use of Situational Irony is when Mrs. Mallard reacts to her husband's death. At first she is grieving over the death of her husband, but as time goes on she becomes more relieved. “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.” (Chopin 1) Mrs. Mallard now feels free and relieved
Mallard’s feeling of freedom. Rain is a symbol of rebirth and cleansing, a renewal. An excellent use of rain is present to portray just that, “The delicious breath of rain was in the air.” (Chopin 1) Another symbol used is found just before the previous quote is of springtime, new life and rejuvenation, “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life.” (Chopin 1) personification of the trees also helps invoke the feeling of freedom to the reader.
Though all the elements point to freedom and rebirth, it is still ironic that Mrs. Mallard died in the way she did. She was so happy that she needed not to worry about her husband anymore, so happy that her heart could not take it, causing her own death in this twisted story of freedom and life. An overload of emotion can cause an opposing emotion to brew within and create a juxtaposition, causing both to overwhelm the holder. However these feelings will fade over time, and with time, all wounds are