The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin:

The last line of the story is this: "When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy that kills."

In what ways is this an ironic statement? What is gained by having the doctors make such a statement rather than putting it in the mouths of Josephine or Richards?

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Erik Erickson

5 February, 05:21

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin:

The last line of the story is this: "When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy that kills."

In what ways is this an ironic statement? What is gained by having the doctors make such a statement rather than putting it in the mouths of Josephine or Richards?

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Brady Pennington · Answer 1

Irony occurs when someone means the opposite of what he or she says. Thus, in Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," it is ironic that the doctors say that Louise Mallard dies of "heart disease of joy," because heart disease is medically never associated with happiness but with stress and pain. Josephine and Richards console Louise when she grieves her husband's death, so they see her devastated. However, there is also irony in the fact that Louise then locks in her room and, after thinking about it, she feels overjoyed to know her husband is dead and she is liberated. Finally, she dies when she sees that he is alive.