Contrast of irony and style in The Story of an Hour by Kate ChopinKate Chopin's use of irony in her short story, "The story of an hour,” stands in direct contrast to the subtle way he tells the story. A strong use of irony in a story produces more honesty in the character. It achieves this quality by immediately setting the premise that Mrs. Mallard's fragile health will ultimately lead to her death, after receiving news of her husband's death. Before an immediate assumption can be made about Mrs. Mallard, Chopin begins to embark on another path. This divergence is evident at the point in the story where Mrs. Mallard's reaction is anticipated, however: "She did not listen to the story as many women have listened to the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its meaning" (170). Mrs. Mallard is indeed grieving over the loss of her husband, but: "When the storm of grief had abated, she went away alone to her room" (170). Chopin releases her character's inner feelings at the same time as those expected of her. For many people, an event as significant as the death of a loved one would be considered their darkest day. The loss of an individual can lead to a bitter and pessimistic view of one's world, finding fault with everything, even the most glorious days. Paragraph five is vivid with pleasant imagery, as the "new spring life" and the "delicious breath of rain" become symbolic of Mrs. Mallard's release of her inner feelings. Hardly the reaction one might have expected. There are new hopes and aspirations ahead of her, not the exact opposite as one might assume. Yet, Mrs. Mallard is afraid that the feelings will overwhelm her, as if she were repressing a dirty thought. As if he heard the voice of society... in the center of the paper... the whole story, as Chopin writes:And yet she loved him ---sometimes. Often he hadn't. What did it matter? What could love, the unsolved mystery, count in the face of this possession of self-affirmation which he suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of his being! (171)This paragraph couldn't be more honest than it already is. It is clear how this tale challenged the thinking of the time. Great writers are those who have the foresight and nerve to challenge the establishment. To break down the harmful rules dictated by a select few. Perhaps the great irony is that many people thought the same thing about Mrs. Mallard, but didn't seize the opportunity. Perhaps it's more shocking to see how far the company has come, only to see how far it still has to go. Works Cited: Chopin, Kate. The story of an hour. (1894). April 31st. 2003.