What is the Irony? The irony is a literary device that is used to convey the opposite of what is actually being said or written. It’sIt’s a common plot device for illuminating the personalities and motivations of characters and generally enlightening the reader. The use of Irony can either make or shatter a story, depending on how it is used. Situational, verbal, and dramatic Irony are all present in Kate Chopin’s “The story of an Hour” and Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat.” In both stories, the protagonists’ lives are marked by a high level of conflict. These three kinds of Irony are examined in this essay, and how they emphasize the conflict within the narratives.
The Story of an Hour
Verbal Irony is the very first type of Irony that Chopin employs. Using verbal Irony is when a message is delivered contrary to what is really meant. At the beginning of the narrative, Chopin writes, “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.” (Chopin, 197). For most readers, Mrs. Mallard’s condition would be interpreted as a serious medical issue, but it could also be a sign that she is struggling with feelings for her husband.
Situational Irony is another form of Irony that appears in the story. What is expected to happen and what actually happens is the basis of situational Irony. Mr. Mallard, for example, is meant to be dead, but he isn’t in the narrative. The story begins with the news that Mr. Mallard has been added to the list of railroad accident victims. Then Chopin writes, “Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella.” (Chopin, 199). Situational Irony occurs when Someone who is thought to be dead walks in. The fact that Mr. Mallard survives and Mrs. Mallard dies is another example of situational Irony. Because no one expected Mr. Mallard to survive and Mrs. Mallard to die, Chopin is a master of situational Irony.
Dramatic Irony was the last type of Irony employed in the narrative. Dramatic irony arises when the audience is privy to information that the characters are not. This can be seen, for example, in Josephine’s fear that Mrs. Mallard had isolated herself in her room and was thus becoming unwell. While alone in her room, Mrs. Mallard kept repeating, “Free! Body and soul free!” (Chopin, 199) to herself. The audience was aware that this was not the case. Mrs. Mallard wasn’t making herself sick; instead, she was daydreaming of a life free of her husband’s financial and emotional burdens and responsibilities for the future.
Sweat
In reality, as seen in “Sweat,” spouses should be able to handle their responsibilities on their own. Because he fails to live up to the expectations of a good husband, situational Irony shows that Sykes and his wife are at odds. Throughout the novel, his acts and mistakes contradict his role as a husband and support his wife’s decision not to assist him in the end. An example of verbal Irony in Sweat is what Delia says amid fight a fight with Sykes, “Mah cup is done run ovah” (Hurston 379). However, in reality, she is suffering from a poor marriage, an indifferent husband, and the possibility of death. By pondering the Irony of her remarks, the reader understands how much Delia longs for such blissful tranquility. Many things upset her equilibrium, and she finds herself at odds with her spouse and her innermost thoughts. For example, Sykes’s adultery, how he beats and tries to murder her, and his lack of care for her are all issues. At the end of the novel, her exhaustion from trying to justify Sykes’ behavior shows in her hesitation to assist him when he is in need. As Sykes struggles to get a match to light the room, a dramatic irony unfolds in the narrative. The reader is aware that the snake has escaped the basket, but Sykes is not, and by the time he learns of this, it is too late, as was the case with Delia, who was aware of this but chose not to reveal it.
In conclusion, Irony is a powerful literary element because it affects the reader’s thinking by bringing out the deeper meanings in a story, which would otherwise be lost on them. The reader will also be able to spot any apparent discrepancies, allowing them to assess the evidence and render justice in their judgment. As a result, the reader is forced to engage with the story on a more emotional level, which leads them to either empathize with or reject the characters, and ultimately helps them form an opinion on how the story is being told. In order for a narrative to have the essential influence on establishing the intended meaning that the author wants it to have, all of these ironic roles must be present.
Work Cited
Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. Oppian, 2020.
Hurston, Zora Neale. “Sweat,” in The Oxford Book of American Short Stories, ed. Joyce Carol Oates. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.
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