Jacqueline Carlos
Option 3, Irony in "The Story of an Hour" and "The Cask of Amontillado"
The use of irony is apparent in many great works, and is employed as an instrument through which tone is set in Edgar Allen Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" and Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour." Poe's continuous use of irony in his work establishes a sinister tone, while the irony in Chopin's work produces a feeling of despondency.
There are several applications of verbal irony in Poe's story that contribute to the menacing mood depicted throughout the piece. For example, the very name of the defeated antagonist in Poe's story is Fortunato, which suggests good fortune, but he nonetheless experiences a ghastly demise. Also, Fortunato is a wine connoisseur, and seems to be esteemed for his ability to give competent insight on all things wine related, "He prided himself on his being a connoisseurship in wine...In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack--but in the matter of old wines he was sincere" (525). However, it is his love for wine, and arrogance about his knowledge of wine that lead him stumbling into his crypt, inebriated. The sinister tone is also illustrated using irony in the story's setting. The story took place during a carnival, a time when people are likely to be celebratory and lively. Poe chooses instead to have a horrific murder take place in the midst of it all. Poe also employs double entendre verbal irony when his protagonist, Montresor, and the antagonist, Fortunato, engage in dialogue. Fortuato signals a secret code from an organization he belongs to referred to as "the masons" (527), of which Montresor does not understand, he nevertheless states that he is a mason. Although he is not a "mason" in the sense that Fortuato may have understood, we later realize that Montresor is a skilled masonry worker, and can erect a stone wall quite efficiently.
Likewise, Chopin achieved a feeling of despondency in her story through the use of irony. After she is told of her husband's death and the initial, "Storm of grief" (337) past, Josephine's senses became overwhelmed, "She could see in the open square before her house the tops of the trees that were all aquiver with new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air...The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves" (337-38). However, these descriptions are ironic because of the fact that her sister, Louise, and her husband's friend, Richards, assume that she is in her bedroom sulking, when in fact, she feels as though she has been set free and is just beginning to live. Also, her death at the end of the story, brought about by a supposed, "Joy that kills" (339) is ironic because we know that she died out of shock and sadness that her dreams would never be realized, which is why the overall tone of the story is of hopelessness. There was no way out of her male domineering relationship; much like it seems there is no way out of the patriarchal society we live in.
In effect, the use of irony in these stories added to their tone and the overall feeling and message the authors wanted to convey to their audience. I believe that irony is not only effective in exemplifying their points about human relationships, but that it is entertaining and makes reading much more enjoyable.
Chopin, Kate. "The Story of an Hour." Literature An Introduction to Reading and Writing. 10th ed. Edgar V. Roberts, Robert Zweig. Glenview: Pearson, 2011. 337-39. Print.
Poe, Edgar Allen. "The Cask of Amontillado." Literature An Introduction to Reading and Writing. 10th ed. Edgar V. Roberts, Robert Zweig. Glenview: Pearson, 2011. 525-29. Print.
Hi Jacqueline, I also believe that irony makes reading more enjoyable. I also felt that Chopin’s use of irony gave the reader a sense of hopelessness. I was in complete shock when it was revealed that her husband was still alive, and I was stricken with sadness that upon seeing her husband she died. She never got to fulfill all her ambitions, and that left me with a sense of sadness for her. In contrast, Poe’s use of irony was more difficult to find. I didn’t even pick up on the fact that Fortunato’s death occurred during a carnival. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI like the way you interpreted Chopin's short story. I felt the story was indeed very ironic, interesting, and a great story to read and critique. The use of irony was apparent throughout the story from beginning to end. When I found out in the beginning that her husband died in an accident I automatically became very sad. I felt so bad because I couldn't imagine hearing such tragic news about my husband dying in any kind of accident! I assumed the wife would also be very miserable hearing such horrible news. I was shocked when she began to say that she was free. I then began to think of the time period and I understood why this lady felt the way she did. Women during this era used to feel trapped by their husbands and times were definitely not the way they are now. The ending was even more bizarre when we heard that her husband was actually alive. Then the wife dies suddenly as she sees her husband is in fact alive. She never had the opportunity to make her dreams come true. The ending did make us feel that sense of hopelessness that you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteLet me start by saying that you write in a very professional way which gives your blog credibility. Also very good job in your interpretation i completely agree with you. On the Ca of the "Cask Of Amontillado," When Fortunato asked Montressor, if he was a mason, and responded positively. I understood that i was ironic that he said that he was a free mason because mason believe in Fraternal Lover(brotherly love, so I look at as if he was telling Fortunato "I'm your best friend". But the Irony of it is that he was planning Fortunato's death.
ReplyDeleteOn "The story of an Hour" Lousie..... is just a victim of machismo or the over power of man. Few aspects of this story I would like to point starting with your own on your blog you posted this quote "She could see in the open square before her house the tops of the trees that were all aquiver with new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air...The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves" (337-38) here is mention the season spring which could be interpreted as a synonym of New life or reborn. son through out that window see herself being reborn and her new happy life.
And I do not know if you notice this, but at the beginning of the story the narrator and characters refers to her as Mrs. Mallard almost at the end she was not Mrs mallard any more, they called her Louise. So Here we are able to see another transition of her transformation on a new woman.
thanks for writing such a great interpretation I really like you blog keep up the work like that, hope my interpretation is useful and help you to see a different side of the story, as your thought s made me see these two literary pieces from a different perspective.