Situational Irony Showing Sentiment In reality, surprise is accompanied by other emotions. Though people present these feelings through reaction or impulse, authors present feeling in their stories by using a device called situational irony. Situational irony is the unexpected twist commonly found in short stories. In O. Henry’s “The Ransom of Red Chief,” situational irony is used to create a humorous effect. Guy de Maupassant uses situational irony in his story “The Necklace” to present a sense of justice to the reader. Based on these two stories, it is evident that situational irony is a commonly used method for authors to show sentiment. In O. Henry’s short story “The Ransom of Red Chief,” he uses situational irony to create a humorous …show more content…
effect. For instance, it creates a comical effect when Mr. Dorset’s son is kidnapped and he is thrilled while his abductors are terrified of him. It should be the other way around, yet the surprise of it is what creates a humorous effect on the reader. Just as Sam is about to leave Bill and the kid so that he can deliver the ransom note, Bill pleads him not to go because he is afraid of being left alone with the Dorset boy and says, “‘I’ve stood by you without batting an eye in earthquakes, fire, and flood-in poker games, dynamite outrages, police raids, train robberies, and cyclones. I never lost my nerve yet till we kidnapped that two-legged skyrocket of a kid, He’s got me going. You won’t leave me long with him, will you, Sam?’” (46). This is ironic because, in theory, The Dorset kid should be frightened of being left alone with Bill, but the opposite is true. Situational irony is used once more to create a comical effect when the kidnappers, Bill and Sam, must pay a ransom. Bill and Sam receive a counter offer from Mr. Dorset proposing that they pay him a ransom in turn for him taking back his nuisance of a son. Bill and Sam discuss their options when Sam finally concludes, “‘This little he-awe lamb has somewhat got on my nerves too. We’ll take him home, pay the ransom, and make our getaway’” (53). The humor and irony in this is that the kidnappers are willing to pay a ransom to get rid of the boy that they kidnapped when they should be receiving a ransom instead. Just as O. Henry uses situational irony in “The Ransom of Red Chief” to create an emotion other than surprise, Guy de Maupassant uses situational irony in “The Necklace” to achieve similar goals. In Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace,” he uses situational irony to create a sense of justice.
For example, there is a feeling of justice in the piece of irony where Mathilde wants to be the richest of the rich but ends up as the poorest of the poor. In the beginning of the story, it is described how much Mathilde believes she deserves to be rich when the narrator explains, “She suffered endlessly, feeling herself born for every delicacy and luxury” (1). The fact that Mathilde is ungrateful for what she has and only wants more easily creates a sense of justice when she becomes poor and earns what she deserves. Another instance where situational irony creates a sense of justice is when Mathilde goes into ten years of poverty over a fake necklace that has the appearance of an expensive necklace. In the very end of the story Mathilde decides to confess to Madame Forestier about losing her necklace. Once Mathilde confesses, Madame Forestier is astonished and yells, “‘Oh, my poor Mathilde! But mine was imitation. It was worth at the very most five hundred francs!’” (8). This is ironic because something of very little value causes Mathilde and her husband to go into poverty. The fact that Mathilde goes into poverty over an imitation necklace displays the feeling of justice because Mathilde, much like the necklace, was fake and trying too hard to be something she was
not. Situational irony is an unexpected twist within a story that usually leaves the reader surprised. That surprise that the readers are left with is also accompanied by varying sentiments. After examining Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace,” a story that inflicts a sense of justice in the reader, and O. Henry’s “The Ransom of Red Chief,” a funny story, it is evident that authors often use situational irony to manipulate reader’s emotions.
The first example of this is “One of those pictures… a blinding ache struck Jim’s head” (175). The irony here is situational because in the dilemma, Charles is trying to mislead Mr. Dark away from the boy trying to keep them safe. However, Mr. Dark ends up hurting them supernaturally making the outcome outcome of the conflict the complete opposite of what Charles wanted. In the next example Charles says, “I'm not going to murder you…” (274). This is situational irony because Charles says he isn't going to kill Mr. Dark, but ends up doing it. Charles says this most likely in truth because of his current state in the conflict a smushed up hand and out past curfew. In the last example Charles challenges Mr. Dark, “Halloway, work in the library, drop by sometime” (180). This final example is situational irony because Charles is confronting Dark thinking he could beat him, but ultimately gets beat up himself. It is most likely he did this to stop running and try to put a stop to everything before things get worse. Dramatic and situational irony are ways Ray Bradbury developed Charles
Like salt and pepper to beef, irony adds “flavor” to some of the greatest works of literature. No matter if readers look at old pieces of work like Romeo and Juliet or more modern novels like To Kill a Mockingbird, irony’s presence serve as the soul fuel that pushes stories forward. By definition, irony occurs when writers of books, plays, or movies destine for one event or choice to occur when the audiences expects the opposite; like Tom Robinson being found guilty after all evidences point other ways in To Kill a Mockingbird. These unique plot twists add mystery and enjoyability to hundreds of books. From the very beginning of The Chosen, a novel written by Chaim Potok, to the very end, irony’s presences does not leave the reader at any
Throughout the historic course of literature, one story known as “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Cornell has incorporated specific types of irony for multiple differing and fundamental reasons. Situational irony is the first use of ironic elements that will be discussed in regards to the story. Situational irony is defined as “an incongruity that appears between the expectations of something to happen, and what actually happens instead ” (literarydevices.net). The story’s climax offers a unique twist to the plot as it includes an unexpected discovery, ultimately incorporating situational irony into the sequence of events. The story starts out with the introduction of the legendary hunter Bob Rainsford as he is shipwrecked and trapped on a deserted island. While staying on the island, Rainsford is introduced to the eccentric General Zaroff, who is a self proclaimed expert hunter as well. In short, the General turns out to be a sadistic psychopath who forces Rainsford into a game of “cat and mouse”, which causes Rainsford to fight for his life. This state of affair is considered to be situational irony because Zaroff defies the expectations of being a hunter to the audience. This is specifically shown in the text when Rainsford confronts General Zaroff in regards to what he is hunting:
Situational irony is used in both O’Henry’s “The Ransom of Red Chief” and “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant but the effect of the techniques on the tone of each story is very different. In O’Henry’s story, the protagonist, Red Chief, is being kidnapped by two criminals, Bill and Sam. There are many ironic events that occur in the story. For example, the reader expects Red Chief to want to go back home to his family but instead, he is having the time of his life. As hard as Bill tries, he cannot even send him home. Bill utters to Sam, “‘I showed him the road to Summit and kicked him about eight feet nearer there at one kick’” (6). This is comical because it is using a literary technique known as slapstick comedy. The reader can imagine Bill swinging his leg and kicking Red Chief all the way back to Summit. Another example of situational irony in the story is that the reader would expect that Red Chief to be scared but what is actually happening is that Bill is terrified. While speaking with Sam, Bill complains about Red chief yet again, “‘I’ve stood by you without batting an eye ...
“The supreme irony of life is that hardly anyone gets out of it alive.” -Robert A. Heinlein. In the short story, “The Possibility of Evil”, the author Shirley Jackson uses irony to develop the traits of the protagonist, Miss Strangeworth, in her small hometown. Throughout the story, there are many examples of irony as Miss Strangeworth goes through her normal day. Irony is an engaging literary device used by authors to expose underlying intentions which become critical to the development of the plot.
On their way to find Death, the three rioters stumble upon an old sorrowful man in a shack. The old man hears the three men ranting on about their quest to find death and tells them he has been waiting for Death to come get him, for Death has traveled all over the world. Hearing the old man bring up death, the three men demand the old man to tell them where they can find death so they can kill it. The old man tells them they can find death under the oak tree, the rioters run to find the oak tree and find nothing but a bag full of gold coins. Confused because they did not find death where the old man said they could, they forget about why they were looking for and think about how their lives will become better with the golden coins they have found also they think about not being able to walk back to town with the gold coins or they would all be taken as thieves. There is several examples of irony in the story as well. Example one would be when they all agreed that know matter what they will not become greedy and turn their back on one another because they are like
“It looked like a good thing: but wait till I tell you,”(Henry, pg.1) about this comedic story that identifies two moronic characters and one holy terror of a child, who they thought they could handle. O. Henry’s short story “The Ransom of Red Chief” is a high level of comedy that uses allusion and irony to convey the idea that you must be wise before pursuing an act, because it may come back to bite you.
1. Irony is a useful device for giving stories many unexpected twists and turns. In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," irony is used very effectively in her story. Situational irony is used to show the reader what is assumed to happen sometimes doesn't. Dramatic irony is used to hint to the reader something is happening to the characters in the story that they do not know about. Irony is used throughout Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" through the use of situational irony and the use of dramatic irony.
In the stories “Story of an Hour”, “Everyday Use”, “The Necklace”, and “The Lottery” it is evident that irony was quite a large part of the short story. There is situational irony, which is when the situation turns out differently than expected. Also, dramatic irony is present, which is when you as a reader knows more than the character. The authors seem to base their whole story around irony to surprise their readers.
For example the family go on a fun road trip across the country and they end up being murder. O 'Connor uses a few types of irony to convey her message about what makes a person good. In the first paragraph the Grandmother says she would never take her children where there is criminal on the loose and if she did she wouldn’t know what to do. However, the Grandmother takes the family to a dirt road which will later lead them to their demise. The story 's irony focuses on the family 's communication with the Misfit. "She would of been a good woman, if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life" (O’Connor). The characters don 't realize whats going when death is pointing right at them and as a family they grow closer than they ever have, despite them being dreadful
Irony is a useful device for giving stories many unexpected twists and turns. In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," irony is used as an effective literary device. Situational irony is used to show the reader that what is expected to happen sometimes doesn't. Dramatic irony is used to clue the reader in on something that is happening that the characters in the story do not know about. Irony is used throughout Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" through the use of situational irony and the use of dramatic irony.
Reasoning: similar to Ferris in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Sam does not quite fit into a category of a stereotypical comedic trope. However, the situational irony that surrounds him is what brings the comedic aspect to
The definition of irony, according to Laurence Perrine, involves discrepancy or incongruity while it has a “contrast in which one term of the contrast in some way morks the other term” (177). He also includes three types of ironies; however, there are two more important ironies: dramatic irony and irony of situation. Dramatic irony is the contrast between “what a character says and what the reader knows to be true” (178). And irony of situation is “the discrepancy is between appearance and reality, or between expectation and fulfillment…” (178). The theme that fits with those ironies is the reversal of stereotypes. Reversal of stereotypes, defined by Shirley Barlow, is when someone “simply refuses any longer to accept... stereotypes unless
The situational irony is that his name was on the list and louis sees his name and tell the news to Mrs. Mallard’s sister. She locks herself in room and her sister think she is in pain but she was dreaming of her life is going to be great without her husband. The dramatic irony is her death in the end. As a reader I knew she dies because of the shock seeing her husband but the characters think she died because of joy. She was happy that he died and she wishes for a long life but sadly she dies.
Irony can often be found in many literary works. “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin is masterfully written full of irony. The characters of the short story, Mrs. Mallard, Josephine, Richards, Mr. Brently Mallard, and the doctors all find their way into Chopin’s ironic twists. Chopin embodies various ironies in “The Story of an Hour” through representations of verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony.