Discuss the literary term “irony” in reference to the following 2 stories:

“The Necklace” and "The Story of An Hour"

(25 points)

When writing this paragraph, you must answer the following:

What is irony? (define the term) What aspects of each story can be considered to be ironic? Be sure to
give examples and explain.

Irony is a literature “technique of indicating, as through character or plot

development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or

ostensibly stated.” (www.dictionary.com) Writers of short stories have used this

technique to give the reader an emotional response. When reading a short story,

the reader’s emotional response can, more commonly, be placed somewhere in

the realm of the main characters situations. The emotional response created

through the authors use of irony takes on a different form. This response is tied

to the readers’ own expectations which are opposite of the eventual outcome of

the story.

Guy de Maupassant’s story “The Necklace” is a great example of the use

of irony in a short story. The story is about a woman who desires the riches and

luxuries of women who are well above her own station in life. The author leads

the reader to believe that the woman was truly intended for the life of luxury that

she so desires.

“She dressed plainly because she could not dress well, but she was as

unhappy as though she had really fallen from her proper station, since with

women there is neither caste nor rank; and beauty, grace, and charm act instead

of family and birth. Natural fineness, instinct for what is elegant, suppleness of

wit, are the sole hierarchy, and make from women of the people the equals of the

very greatest ladies.” (Maupassant, pg. 523)

 When the woman’s desire to have the things that her situation cannot

afford – she borrows an item from a friend. The woman loses this item. The

woman decides to replace the item. Her husband and herself go into extreme

debt and must live in a state of poverty that made her prior situation look grand.

This is an ironic outcome to the story and gives the reader a different

emotional response than had the woman, content with her situation in life, fallen

under similar circumstances. The reader, rather than finding the main character,

the woman, bullying her way into the luxuries of life – she is paying a penance for

her vanity and pride.

It is through the authors use of irony that the reader comes to this

conclusion. Had the reader not been suade to believe the main character would

and could demand the luxuries of life, we would merely feel that the main

character was victim to unfortunate circumstance. The author showed the reader

how the main character came to appreciate what true hardship was. “Mme.

Loisel now knew the horrible existence of the needy.” (Maupassant pg. 527) The

author taught the reader how truly fortunate the main character had been prior to

her falling into debt. The reader doesn’t realize the luxury that main character

already has when the story begins. We only understand this fact at the end of

the story when the tables are turned, ironically.

Kate Chopin wrote a short story called “The Story of an Hour,” which

creates another wonderful example of the use of irony in a short story. It’s a

story about a woman who’s husband has been killed a train accident (or so we

are made to believe). The woman recognizes that all her life she has been a
prison in this marriage. She is overwhelmed with happiness that she could be

her own person. It wasn’t that she hated her husband, or that he was abusive or

mean in any way. I believe the author intended to reflect the institution of

marriage as it related to women given respect to the time period.

“There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she
would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind
persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a
private will upon a fellow-creature. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the
act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that brief moment of
illumination.” (Chopin, pg. 159)

The reader begins to realize the life that has become available to the main

character through the unfortunate death of her husband. The reader begins to

feel glad, to feel joy, at her new found freedom. The main character and the

reader look towards the life that had become possible.

The story ends with the woman’s husband returning home, having

not heard about the train accident. The woman, seeing her husband, dies. The

reader is left in shock.

“When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease –

of joy that kills.” (Chopin, pg. 160)

It’s ironic that we believed that life was just beginning for the main

character. It’s ironic that she DID have new chance to live her life. It’s ironic

because within the same day that she gained life she died. It’s ironic because

the reader is feeling the main character blossom like a flower. We don’t expect a

budding flower to wilt.

 The reader anticipates life, and the story gives the reader death.

That is irony. The author portrays an attitude, within the story, of a beginning –

but gives us a final end instead.