Question

At the end of the story, the doctors believe that Mrs. Mallard has died of "joy that kills." They believe her death is caused by happiness

at seeing her husband alive. What is ironic about this assumption?

Answer 1

She actually dies of seeing her freedom disappear at the return of her husband.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Irony in 'The story of an hour:

• ‘The story of an hour’ is a short story which is written by Kate Chopin. At the end of the story, the doctor states that Mrs. Mallard has died of heart attack – of a joy that kills.
• The irony here is, Mallard has a weak heart, when she came to known about the death of her husband she was in a grief.
• But when she got the news that her husband is alive, and at that very moment when she realized that she isn’t free from the incarceration of her marriage, that was the time when her gave up.
• The stress of a sudden grief, and the sudden relaxation was just too much for Mallard’s heart.