The Use Of Irony In The Open Boat By Stephen Crane

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Irony can simplify be defined as the difference between appearance and reality. Irony is a figure of speech where words are used in a way that their intended meaning conveys a different message than what is actually written. Many authors use this technique when writing so that the readers is forced to stop and think about what was said and can begin to figure things out for themselves. There are three different types of irony; irony of situation, dramatic irony, and verbal irony, which each author we have read this semester uses beautiful to express what they mean in the stories. William Faulkner incorporates mostly situational irony in his short story “A Rose For Emily.” Irony of Situation is when the outcome of a situation is different than …show more content…

Crane uses many different type of irony throughout the story but my personal favorite is his use of dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is when the reader knows something the characters of the story do not know. The first example you see is when Crane sets up the story and explains the conditions of the sea that these men are trying to row to land in. “The horizon narrowed and widened, and dipped, and rose, and at all time its edge was jagged with waves that seemed thrust up in points like rocks.” (Crane 389) The awful conditions and life threatening situation the men has created a stronger bond between the men that they never acknowledge between each other. “It would be difficult to describe the subtle brotherhood of men that was established on the seas. No one said that it was so. No one mentioned it. But it dwelt in the boat, and each man felt it warm him.” (Crane 392) The entire story the men are trying to get to land and trying to reach other to anyone who can possible help them. “That’s the house of refuge, sure,” said the cook. “They’ll see us before long, and come out after us.” (Crane 393) They believed they saw a house of refuge who would notify the lifesaving people who would come out and rescue them in no time but they were incorrect, “It is fair to say here that there was not a life-saving station within twenty miles in either direction; but the men did not know this fact” (Crane 394) and it lead them to …show more content…

During their conversation Hemingway uses verbal irony to help cover what they really mean because their saying one thing but they mean another. The story begins with a couple who are traveling across Europe by train and the man is trying to subtly convince the women to have an abortion. He keeps telling her “I care about you,” (Hemingway 791) “I don’t want you to do it if you don’t really want to,” (Hemingway 790) and that he will love her no matter what but by constantly bringing up the subject and pushing the abortion on her it is obvious he does want her to have the abortion. “It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,” the main said. “It’s really not an operation at all.” (Hemingway 790) He believes that an abortion is just a simple operation and it proves how irrelevant it is to him but to her it’s a huge choice. All she wants is for him to love her and she will do anything for his approval, but it appears she doubts how happy they will actually if she does or doesn’t have the operation. She has known people who have had the procedure and claim “afterwards they were all so happy” (Hemingway 790) but means it in a sarcastic

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