Question

The last line of the story is this: 'When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of joy that kills.' In what ways is this an ironic statement? What kind of irony is it? *

a) It's ironic because the character was actually sad, not joyful; situational irony.
b) It's ironic because the doctors misdiagnosed the cause of death; dramatic irony.
c) It's ironic because the character was unhealthy, not joyful; verbal irony.
d) It's not ironic; it's a straightforward statement of fact.

Answer 1

The statement about Mrs. Mallard's death is situational irony because the doctors misinterpret her death as being caused by joy, whereas she died from being overwhelmed by losing her freedom.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement 'When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of joy that kills.' from 'The Story of an Hour' is an example of situational irony. This is because the character, Mrs. Mallard, was not actually joyful about her husband's return but overwhelmed by the loss of her newfound freedom and independence upon learning he was alive. Therefore, the doctors' conclusion that she died of joy is ironically opposite to the reader's understanding of her true emotions. The reader knows that her death was caused not by joy but by the shock and disappointment, which makes the doctors' diagnosis an example of situational irony.