Irony in “The Story of an Hour” In “The Story of an Hour,” Kate Chopin uses a single hour in the main character, Mrs. Mallard’s life, to reveal a series of twists and irony that lead to an unexpected ending. Mrs. Mallard receives news about her husband’s death from her sister and a friend of the family. They are worried about breaking the news to her because she is afflicted with a heart …showed first 75 words of 539 total…

…showed last 75 words of 539 total…to the news is normal at first, but when she enters her bedroom and a feeling of relief comes over her this would be considered unusual. On a deeper level the story is about the joy Mrs. Mallard’s experiences when she realizes that she is free from the influences of her husband. The ending throws the audience off it is shocking to read that Mrs. Mallard is dead and her husband is still alive.