Comparing My Mother Rachel West And The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin

The short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin connects to the short story “My Mother Rachel West” by Dorothy West in the use of situational irony because both main characters are relieved mentally because of the death of a loved one. “The Story of an Hour” is a short story about a woman named Mrs. Mallard, who has a minor heart condition, and her reaction and reflection after she hears the news about her husband’s death. After hearing the news about her husband’s death from an unknown railroad disaster Mrs. Mallard sits in isolation on an armchair in her room. After confiding with her thoughts and feelings she realizes that without her husband she is no longer bound to the chains of matrimony. She is now free to do as she pleases and
have no one else to live for her for the years ahead. A wonderful speculation crossed her mind as she reflected, “She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had though with a shudder that life might be long.” (Chopin PG#). Ironically these thoughts would not be held in the back of her mind forever because, sadly she falls to her death from an unexpected heart attack caused by the surprise from an unexpected visitor; her husband. Mrs. Mallard reveals with this thought how she is disloyal to her husband by being nearly excited for the years to come without him. Loyalty seems to be something to practice in the short story “My Mother Rachel West” also.