Irony In Mr. Mallard's Death

Mrs. Mallard’s response to her husband’s death wasn’t similar to the usual reaction towards death. When her sister Josephine informed her about her husband’s involvement in a tragic accident which led to his death, she cried automatically. “She said it over and over under her breath: “free, free, free!”(Chopin). However, her reaction differs from the usual reactions seen when someone loses a loved one; she begins to think about how Mr. Mallards death plays a significant role in the re-birth of her new life of freedom. Chopin uses irony by emphasizing that Mr. Mallard was kind. The way Mrs. Mallard responds to his death portrays a woman who had lived through years of abuse and passionless marriage. Chopin states that Mr. Mallard’s face had