The Story of an Hour

The Story of an Hour
Kate Chopin

In this story, Josephine and Richards reveal to Mrs. Mallard the death of her husband. As the reader would suspect, Mrs. Mallard started crying. Ironically, Mrs. Mallard's tears were from joy not anguish. Mrs. Mallard was subject to a restricting marriage, so the news of her husband's death brought her joy not anguish. "There would be no one to live for in those coming years; she would live for herself" (Chopin). However, Mr. Mallard was not killed in the train accident. When he arrived at his house, he found that his wife had died of heart disease. Mrs. Mallard had been so overjoyed that her weak heart could not withstand her immense joy. Whereas earlier in the story Josephine and Richards had been careful to break the news about her husband for fear that grief would cause her heart to fail, in actuality Mrs. Mallard's heart failed because of her immense joy. Her death could be considered ironic because the story began with her husband's "death", but ended with her death while her husband still lives.

How I Met My Husband

How I Met My Husband
Alice Munro

This story effectively uses a surprise ending. As interpreted from the title, the story is a reminiscence of how Edie met her husband long ago. Because the reader knows that the story will tell how Edie met her husband, the reader expects that the first man with whom Edie becomes intimate will be her husband. Edie and Chris had a short scene of intimate kissing. After that scene, Chris planned to leave and promised to write Edie. Chris appeared that he would be Edie's husband. One small instance of foreshadowing that suggested that Chris would not be Edie's husband occurred shortly after Chris left, and Edie lied to Alice. "I never thought of myself as being in any way like her, or coming to the same troubles, ever" (Munro). Chris fled from Alice, and Edie thought that she would be with Chris instead of Alice. However, Edie was similar to Alice because Chris left her just as he left Alice. Ironically, Edie met her husband while waiting for a letter from Chris. The end of the story reveals that Carmichael, the mailman, asked Edie on a date which led to their relationship and eventual marriage.

Frankenstein - Irony

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

Frankenstein and his family felt extreme grief over the murder of William. Irony surrounds his murder. Frankenstein believed that his creation killed his brother. Something to which he gave life caused the death of his brother. In a sense, Frankenstein inadvertently caused his brother's death. "A flash of lightening illuminated the object, and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature and the deformity aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy daemon to whom I had given life...Could he be the murderer of my brother?...He was the murderer"(Shelley, 50). This ironic situation caused Victor to feel much grief. He felt that he caused his brother's death. In addition, Justine's conviction caused more grief for Victor. She died because people found her guilty of William's death. Not only did Victor feel guilty for William's death, but he felt guilty for Justine's wrongful conviction and execution. Victor worked so hard to create life, but the result appeared to cause the deaths of two beloved people.