This is an essay on Kate Chopin's use of irony entitled Irony in Short Fiction. This paper focuses on two of Chopin's short stories: The Story of an Hour and Desiree's Baby.

Irony in Short Fiction A man wins the lottery and dies the next day. Another man buys a brand new car and totals it on his way home. A woman shoots an "intruder" only to find out, once the lights are turned on, that her beloved husband had come home early from a lengthy business trip to surprise her. What do all these tragedies have in common? They are all intertwined with a cruel, twist …

…doctors claimed she had died "of heart disease--of joy that kills." One can see that irony can turn a short story into an extremely dramatic and interesting piece of literature. Kate Chopin's short stories are excellent examples of such use of irony. Although short fiction is often characterized by mystery, adventure, and other such themes, the use of irony to intensify the reader's experience can be just as fulfilling and, often, more enjoyable to read.