The Revolt Of Mother

There are several examples of irony throughout “The Revolt of ‘Mother,’” starting with the title. Sarah Penn is “Mother,” a title put inside quotation marks. This can be a lack of authenticity in this role because, instead of minding her husband and staying in her place, Sarah revolts. In this way, Freeman subtly expresses an ambivalence about the message of the narrative; years later, this ambivalence becomes outright dismissal when she effectively disowns this story.

It is ironic that the animals are getting a better living arrangement than the humans, whose home is rundown and inadequate. There is also an ironic twist to the fact that Sammy, a boy, knows more about the barn than his own mother. Some instances of irony are almost comical, like when Sarah claims that she does not complain and then goes on to list every fault with their home and deride her husband for ignoring them in favor of the barn.

When Adoniram leaves the farm and Sarah uses the opportunity to take over the barn, this is an application of dramatic irony that intensifies readers’ expectations and emotions as they wonder what will happen when Adoniram returns.