Tone In Kate Chopin's The Story Of An Hour

In The Story of an Hour, the tone shifts dramatically from desolate to hopeful and then to ironic all within a short time frame. It is created by a swift progression of events and how Louise Mallard reacts to the supposed death of her husband. As Mrs. Mallard processes the latest events, the tone shifts as she comes to a conclusion about her feelings. The final tone is set when Mr. Mallard shows up at her doorstep, unscathed. These tones are clarified and enhanced with the use of imagery and language.
In the beginning of the story, the tone is tense and bleak as Josephine and Richards try to break the news to Mrs. Mallard. There is an undertone of worry which can be recognized when the narrator says, “..great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.” (158) Mrs. Mallard’s reaction is tragic as any new widow,

emphasizing the tone of this passage. It says, “She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms.” (158) Her response is very raw without delay until “when the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone.” (158) All of these excerpts contribute to the lonely, desolate, and tragic tone by kindling sympathy in the reader.
Body Paragraph 2: 2nd tone- hopeful, victorious
After her brief mourning, Mrs.

Mallard comes to a revelation that shocks her, remodeling the tone of the story. This can be understood in the lines, “But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out in welcome.” (159) Mrs. Mallard’s feelings are not as expected of a new widow. Rather, the tone is now elated and hopeful. Images like the patches of blue sky, the tops of trees with new life, the scent and breeze of rain in the air, and a faraway song all enhance this mood of hopefulness. When the narrator describes the atmosphere by saying, “The delicious breath of rain was in the air,” (158) it suggests that Mrs. Mallard is about to experience a new beginning, much like the season of spring. The repetition of the words “free” and “open” also contribute to this new mood. Next, the tone transitions to victorious as “There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory.” (159) Mrs. Mallard feels hopeful, then elated, and lastly triumphant with her new life ahead of

her.
The tone of the story takes yet another sharp turn in the opposite direction when Brently Mallard enters, “a little travel-stained.” (160) The colors of hope and spring are also stained for Mrs. Mallard. Richards and Josephine react similarly to how they did when they were attempting to break the news of Brently’s supposed death to Mrs. Mallard. Mr. Mallard, “stood amazed at Josephine’s piercing cry, at Richards’ quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife.” (160) Richards stands near Mrs. Mallard once again, only this time to protect Brently rather than Mrs. Mallard herself. The mood suddenly twists, becoming very ironic and dark as the doctors “said she had died of heart disease- of joy that kills.” (160) Mrs. Mallard, ironically, does not die of pure happiness. On the contrary, she dies in horror as she realizes that her newest dream is dissipated.
Overall, the tone of the story undergoes metamorphosis. Within a single hour, Mrs. Mallard experiences varying feelings that affect the total mood. The narrator uses imagery, unique language, and a plot that is turned around completely by the end of the story to express each unique tone: desolate, hopeful, and ironic.