Kate Chopin Situational Irony Essay

Kate Chopin used dramatic and situational irony to express her theme. Many social changes were taking place throughout the 20th century. In American society, women were finally able to choose their own career aside from the traditional housewife role. Kate Chopin used irony as a way to unexpectedly shock her readers and reveal the theme in “The Story of An Hour”. Irony is a contrast between what is expected and what actually happened. Dramatic irony is when the reader knows something that a character does not. Meanwhile, situational irony is a surprise by an unexpected turn of events. A theme is a message that the author gets across to the readers through their writing. The theme of “The Story of An Hour” was that women’s roles were changing in society. In her story, Kate Chopin used dramatic irony and situational irony to express her theme.
Kate chopin used dramatic irony in “The Story of An Hour” to express her theme. Kate Chopin writes, “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease -- of a joy that kills” (par. 21 ). In other words, the doctors believed Mrs. Mallard died of joy when in reality she died from disappointment. The women of this time did not have the freedom to make decisions for themselves like a women does now. Forced into marriage, women like Mrs.
Kate Chopin writes, “But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely” (par. 11 ). Mrs. Mallard believed she would live a long life, but died that same day. Women in this time could not live for themselves how many independent women do now. Their lives revolved around their husband. Men came first and women had to make sure that they were satisfied. Mrs. Mallard dying allowed her to finally be free from confinement. Mrs. Mallard had accepted having the chance to live without the imprisonment of a woman in her time, but ended up dying that same