How Does Chopin Use Dramatic Irony In A Respectable Woman

In the selection, A Respectable Woman, Chopin portrayed the life of an early nineteenth-century woman, expected role, and behavior in a largely patriarchal society. A Respectable Woman in Louisiana, where the author lived, were submissive, domesticated, and conformed to the rules and ethics of the society. During that period, churches in America were instrumental to the way people lived. The churches had a big influence on people’s perception of women. Due to the large influence of Catholics, Anglicans, and other Protestant churches, people believed that having an affair outside of marriage was a taboo and ungodly. Also, that belief played a major part in restricting or keeping women away from voting until a constitution amendment empowered

In The Story of an hour, the author used dramatic irony when Mrs. Mallard collapsed at the sight of Mr. Mallard, and the doctor concluded that Mrs. Mallard died of joy that kills (Chopin). However, Mrs. Mallard slumped and died because the freedom hoped for vanished at the sight of Mr. Mallard. Similarly, in The Respectable Woman, the writer used verbal irony when Mrs. Baroda responded to Gaston saying, “I have overcome everything, you will see” (Chopin). The author left a bit of ambiguity in Mrs. Baroda’s response. Consequently, there are several interpretations of that statement. Per Serteyed said, “To escape temptation, she leaves, and on her return, she tells her husband, and in words wonderfully ambiguous to the readers “ (Serteyad 72). Peggy Skaggs went further, saying, “And the reader understands that she is going to risk everything, her husband, her marriage, her very happiness-simply because passion aroused demands its fulfillment” (Skaggs 96). Pekky believed Mrs. Baroda would engage in an illicit affair as a result of the tone in which Chopin employed. Chopin’s tone revealed Mrs. Baroda had a new identity and was ready to express self freely