The Story of an Hour
by Kate Chopin

The Story of an Hour: Tone 1 key example

Definition of Tone

The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Tone
Explanation and Analysis:

The tone of “The Story of an Hour” is ironic and, eventually, pessimistic. Throughout the story, somber and cheerful language are paired in an ironic and even disconcerting way. This, in turn, corresponds with Louise’s ambivalent reaction to her husband, Brently’s, death in a railroad accident.

The tone is distinctly somber at the beginning of the story, when Louise first learns that her husband has been killed:

She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms. When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.

There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.