Notes

Literature is unique because concepts such as irony can be manipulated so that its connotation can be of significant use in conveying an idea. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” is an ideal example in how situational irony is utilized to benefit a piece of literature’s intentions. The passage begins with Mrs. Mallard, the main character in Chopin’s passage, being informed of her husband’s passing. The irony is in the reaction of Mrs. Mallard where she decides to act as if she is not impacted by her husband’s death instead of allowing herself to grieve over him. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” incorporates situational irony to illustrate the character of Mrs. Mallard, then utilizing Mrs. Mallard’s behavior to portray Chopin’s own perception of established gender roles in the late 19th century.

Immediately after she is informed of her Husband’s death, Chopin states that Mrs. Mallard “paralyzed” her ability to “accept its significance.” This is where the situational irony is first presented since the usual expectation of one who is told of their loved one’s demise is that sorrow, or some form of despair is to be visible. However, it is not visible in Mrs. Mallard case, and she goes so far as to intentionally limit herself to only one weep in her sister’s arms. She then proceeds into an empty room where one brief sob occurs before she suspends herself into deep thought. A transitional stage is found here as it initializes with Mrs. Mallard whispering “Free, free, free…” This whisper is then compounded with more of Mallard’s deep thought as she ultimately convinces herself that the monstrous joy she feels is to come has no need to be suggested and is definite. The only glance she takes back at her husband’s death is a envisioned glance at his dead body at a wake, a sight that she believes may weaken her, something she very much would dislike. Thus, through this complete repression of her feelings, it’s evident that Mrs. Mallard, rather than feel the pain associated with her husband’s death, would like to embrace the life she has ahead of her. She even continues to say “beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years… that would belong to her…,” totally forfeiting her grief in exchange for an optimistic outlook on life after her husband’s death. Mrs. Mallard’s character, one of optimism and eagerness to enjoy life, is now beginning to be illuminated so that Chopin can successfully communicate her message.

Chopin’s message is first present on page two, where she mentions that Mrs. Mallard begins to look on the positive end of her husband’s death, specifically, that there is now no one to live for but herself. This is pivotal because this evokes a sense of a woman’s desire to be independent, given that Chopin is a female herself. Moreover Chopin states “There will be no powerful will bending hers…” Withal, there is a somewhat conflict birthed through Mallard’s behavior. Is she truly satisfied with her husband’s death? It would be imperative to consider it definitely possible since Chopin states Mallard would also have no private will enforced upon her. Nonetheless, Mallard digresses on this topic also, as she simply desires to embrace the life she has now and be passed the life she once shared. Now her nonchalant mannerisms towards her life with her husband pose another conflict? Did Mallard actually love her spouse? Chopin answers this with “…sometimes. Often she had not.” This excerpt transcends the mood from an informative and exploratory tone, into a very didactic tone. Chopin finalizes Mallard’s detachment from her husband’s death towards the end of page two where Mallard continues to whisper to herself that she is now free, Chopin even venturing to say she is now indulging in the “elixir of life” as if she had not lived before this event and that this has offered her a rebirth.

The overarching question now becomes. why does Chopin choose to articulate that Mallard may now experience a life without a male deciding the trajectory of it? Kate Chopin, in various works as this one, The Awakening, and more, obviously takes a feminist approach to detail and then projects the difference between a married woman and an individual woman. Considering her deep interest in this topic, one must consider that Chopin believes that the male presence in a female’s life is overflowing and is unfair. Given her endings with this passage and in The Awakening, it is evident that she also believes that it is only death that disconnects a woman from the tyrannical ruler in a man. The established gender roles blatantly trouble Chopin’s literature and it is legible that she feels she needs to draw urgency to it. In essence, gender trouble contemporary relationships in marriages, politics, the workplace environment, and so forth. Equality is something almost impossible to establish, for it will always take the public to treat one as they would treat the next, and even treat themselves, possibly why Chopin feels no need to address the government and instead forms a passage that the public may comprehend and adjust for.
Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” is an insightful passage that conveys the troubled connection of male and female, and the established gender roles of her time clearly need alterations according to Chopin. Death being the only viable or unalienable way to detach from a male’s reign is disturbing and Chopin illustrates this in her work. This establishment will always be called upon for adjustments, for male and female will always have to coexist, and Chopin’s teaches this continually.