The Story of an Hour- Kate Chopin

I will begin by stating the obvious.  The death of her husband came as a release and freedom to her.  He had obviously been one to restrict her and hold her down; however, because of his death, she was allowed to be free again.  I find that there is some irony held within this story due to the fate of Mrs. Mallard.  ""Free! Body and soul free""(Chopin)!  or "She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long"(Chopin).  There is irony contained in both of these sentences.  The first is that she is rejoiced at her recently found freedom of her body and her soul; however, as soon as her not-dead husband appears, that freedom is cut short by her death. The initial news of the death of her husband was eventually greeted by elation and joy, but the death is not what killed her.  The culprit to her death was her husband showing back up after he was supposed to have been killed.  The irony in the second quote is that she does not end up living longer at all.  There was also a bit of foreshadowing in the beginning of the story with the mention of her heart condition.  However, the heart condition was not activated by what the reader initially would think would start it.