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3. Dramatic irony in Romeo and Juliet
3. Dramatic irony in Romeo and Juliet
3. Dramatic irony in Romeo and Juliet
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Recommended: 3. Dramatic irony in Romeo and Juliet
Maguy Rosen
Marsnik
AP English Literary Analysis
Word Count
Irony in Romeo and Juliet
“Never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo” “Irony is the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect” William Shakespeare brings you the tragic play of Romeo and Juliet, where he uses three different types of irony, verbal, situational, and dramatic to portray and illustrate the love story between Romeo and Juliet.
One of Shakespeare’s tools to express irony is through verbal context when the writer writes one thing but means another, or uses words that are literally the opposite of what they are actually trying to say. Shakespeare does a tremendous job in the prologue of Act 1 opening with “Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; whose misadventured piteous overthrows
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Who would be willing to die for their loved ones? Romeo and Juliet would and did. Romeo and Juliet’s love and death brought two families together who could not even remember the origin of their hate. When the parents saw what their children's love for each other, they realized that their fighting had only led to suffering and insoluble conflict. Romeo and Juliet loved each other to an extent that they killed themselves rather than live apart. They did it with no hiatus. Juliet says before she kills herself, “O happy dagger, This is thy sheath. There rust and let me die.”( 5, 3, 182-183) demonstrating how she would rather die than not be with him.
This is also an example of dramatic irony; the audience knows what is on the way. making the story even sadder for them. In Act 2 Scene 2, Romeo is talking about the possibility of being caught in the Capulet grounds in a very relaxed and romantic manner. My life was better ended by their hateâ€. This is an example of dramatic irony Romeo is talking about being.
“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name;” (Shakespeare, 536). In the book, ‘Romeo and Juliet”, by William Shakespeare there is a deeper meaning that Shakespeare is trying to portray other than parents cannot control their children’s hearts. He is trying to portray that a name is only a name and it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things and that even with a different name that person will still be the same person they have always been. Shakespeare is using the characters: Juliet, Romeo, Lord Capulet, Friar Lawrence, and the Nurse to get this message across to the reader or the viewer.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "dramatic irony (literature)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. .
One example of expertly used irony is when Hamlet is talking to his mother when he hears a noise behind the curtains, so he stabs the figure behind the tapestries thinking it is Claudius, “How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead!” (3, 4, 24), only to find out it is Polonius. This irony can be interpreted as dramatic irony, because the audience knows Polonius is behind the curtains while Hamlet does not. It can also be interpreted as situational irony, because Hamlet suspects that the person spying on him is Claudius. Wanting to avenge his father, he stabs him through the curtain but it turned out to be Polonius. Doing this initiates a chain of events that lead to his tragic death. Another prime example of irony increasing the enjoyment of the readers for the past 400 years is when Laertes is killed by his own poisoned sword. When Osric asks Laertes how he is doing right after he was scratched with his own sword, Laertes responds, “Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric. I am justly killed with mine own treachery.” (5, 2, 308-309). It is quite ironic that Laertes is murdered by his own plan. One would expect Laertes to draw first blood as he is a better skilled swordsman than Hamlet. However, he dies by poison first because the sword that was intended to kill Hamlet was used on him; this is situational irony. Irony brings a greater depth to the story.
In both A Streetcar Named Desire and Hamlet, Tennessee Williams and William Shakespeare, respectively, demonstrate their abilities to create engaging plays which work on several levels in order to produce the desired effect. One of the most important characteristics of these plays is the playwrights' success in using their words to create the worlds surrounding their works. Both Shakespeare and Williams effectively use irony in the aforementioned plays, both in the plot and with specific symbolism, to create mildly existential environments where effective irony is a confirmation of fate and justice. Immediately apparent to the reader upon completion of these two works is the glaring appearance of irony in the plays' plots. For example, in A Streetcar Named Desire, a great deal of dramatic irony is created when the audience is made aware of details that characters are ignorant to.
In the play Othello, Shakespeare uses many literary devices to help the reader understand the theme of the story. One of those many literary devices used in the play, is the wide range of irony. Throughout the pages of the book the reader will see the use of dramatic, situational, and verbal irony. Shakespeare does not use irony in an understated way, it is very direct, and can be found on almost every page of the book. The use of irony creates suspense, and adds interest as to what will happen.
Sophocles’s Antigone uses irony in it to show the quality of characters like Creon and Antigone. Irony was used to bring out the true character in each person in his plays. Sophocles uses irony many times with Creon and Antigone to show who they really were. Sophocles purpose with portraying irony in his writing was to show Antigone as rude and blunt, and to show Creon as prideful and sexist.
Dramatic irony is when the audience or reader knows the words and actions of the characters in a work of literature, but certain characters in the story do not know them. The reader or audience has a greater knowledge of many of the characters themselves. Shakespeare employs dramatic irony in many of his tragedies; so that the audience is engaged, and so they are able to witness characters errors in their action, predict the fate of the characters, and experience feelings of tragedy and grief. As a tragedy, Hamlet deals with the problems that arise as a result of Hamlet's attempt to avenge his father's death. Throughout the play Hamlet is on the search of his self, while his actions are shaping who he really is. As he is attempting to find himself his actions go too far and cause many deaths even his own, and he never gets the opportunity of finding his true self. According to the Whit Cream team, “your choices, values and perspectives that shape your soul” define your self.
Verbal irony is when someone says one thing but, means another. An example of verbal irony in the play is when Procter is in the courthouse and says that Elizabeth can not lie and then she does. “In her life, sir, she have never lied. There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep, my wife cannot lie. I have paid much to learn it, sir” (pg 973 Miller Act 3), “Look at me! To your knowledge, has John Procter ever committed the crime of lechery? Answer my question! Is your husband a leacher!” (pg 974 Miller Act 3), “No, sir” (pg 974 Miller Act 3). Another example of verbal irony is when Abigail is in the court house and she is doing Gods work, but really she is doing the devils by getting all the girls to act like they see Mary’s spirit too. “Oh, Mary this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God’s work I do” (pg 975 Miller Act 3). Dramatic irony is when the readers know something that the characters do not. One example of dramatic irony is when Abigail acts like she sees Mary Warrens spirit, but she really does not. “Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God’s work I do” (pg 975 Miller Act 3), “Mary Warren! Draw back your spirit out of them!” (pg 975 Miller Act 3). Another example of dramatic irony is when Elizabeth was asked why she discharged Abigail she said that she did not satisfy
What makes a piece of literature relevant or irrelevant to a society? There have been many debates on the relevance about particular pieces of literature, especially old literature, in the modern day. Their relevance can be judged by how they address issues happening in society when they were written compared to those same issues today. It can also be judged on whether the themes present can apply to the modern day. And even if a story portrays issues that are either resolved or irrelevant today it can still have value on how it portrays human nature The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is a relevant work for a person in modern times due to its themes on suicide, human recklessness, and violence and revenge.
Through the combination of the two different types of irony, Shakespeare wasn’t only able to deliver his message, but was also successful in creating a comedy out of it at the same time. By using situational irony, he was able to create plot twists for the audience and make things more interesting. While dramatic irony was used mainly to create a comedic effect for the play. When combined, Shakespeare was able to deliver his message while making a point out of it looking from his perspective. “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind. ” (Pg.
One example of dramatic irony is when Oedipus is looking for the killer of the king Laius-his father. The irony here is that he is looking for himself because he is the murder of his father. Oedipus knows that he killed someone, but what he does not know is that it was Laius, the one he murder. Oedipus wants to punish the person who killed Laius, but we, the audience know that Oedipus was the one who killed Laius. Also Oedipus married Jocasta without knowing that she is his mother. We, the audience knew that he was Jocasta's son, but he was unaware of that.
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.
The most obvious use of dramatic irony is in the prologue. The chorus summarizes the entire play in a fourteen line sonnet, revealing the plot and the conclusion of the play. The prologue creates a sense of fate because the audience knows and expects that Romeo and Juliet will die despite all their efforts to sustain their true love. In Act 1 Scene 5, at the masquerade ball, Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time, and fall in love before either is aware that they are supposed enemies. Juliet says “If he is married.