Notes

The Story of an Hour by American Author Kate Chopin is a mainstay of Feminist literaray study. Originally published in 1894, the story documents the complicated reaction of Louise Mallard upon learning of her husband's death.
Death represents freedom. The entire story is one long set-up for an ironic twist. It is a masterpiece of the literally technique of irony, even the title is ironic, so much that it is unexpected in the life of Mrs. Mallard in just 60 minutes.

SITUATIONAL IRONY
The difference b/w what is expected to happen and what actually happens.
Eg. while Mrs. Mallard is secretly revelling in the thought of her husband's death in the train accident, he miraculously walks away from it.

DRAMATIC IRONY
The reader is more aware of what is happening than a character.
Eg. everyone believes Mrs. Mallard died from the 'happy' shock that her husband was alive. But in truth, her shock was that of a massive disappointment and sadness. Here, the reader is more aware of what is happening than a character.

The ending of the story is an ironic twist. when the doctors determine that Mrs. Mallard of heart disease - 'the joy that kills', the reader immediately recognises the IRONY. It seems clear that her shock was not joy but over her husband's survival but rather distress over losing her cherished new-found freedom.
Only the readers and the narrator know that she had already experienced a potentially 'monstrous joy'alone with the knowledge of a lost spouse and the free life stretching out ahead of her.

THE SYMBOLISM
The symbolism or the representation of one of the thing with another is evident in Mrs. Mallard's weak heart. She is too weak and sensitive to tolerate heavy situations; we know that this is a symbol for the lack of love in her life. When there is no love, the heart empties and eventually dies.

ALLEGORY
Allegory comes in the form of how motives seem to permeate the story. Death, resurfacing, restarting, going back to life, those are topics which are ever-present in the story. All the happiness that could exist in Mrs. Mallard's life would only be possible from Brently's death. As he is alive, she now has to die.
Either way, death is ever-present, either through her condition or through his accident.

IMAGERY
Imagery is used a lot especially when one understands the extent to which Mrs. Mallard really wants to change her life. and begins to imagine herself as a free woman.
"She was drinking in a very elixir of life"
"She was carrying her unwittingly like a goddess of victory"

SYMBOLS AND MOTIFS
The author uses various symbols and motifs in the story. Mrs. Mallard's weeping about her husband's death highlights the *dichotomy between sorrow and happiness*. She cries or thinks about crying for about three quarters of the story stopping only when she thinks of her new freedom. Perhaps crying was a part of her life with Brently, but presumably after his death be absent from her life as an independent woman.