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What are the instance of irony of the story the gift of the magi
What are the instance of irony of the story the gift of the magi
What are the instance of irony of the story the gift of the magi
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O. Henry can be rightfully called a genius of literature as his short stories skillfully render beauty and unpredictability of life. The author turns to various characters and settings but it is always entertaining and interesting to the reader what will happen to the characters next and how the conflict of each particular story is solved. Irony is one of the major instrument that O. Henry uses in his work to achieve his artistic purposes. In this aspect, one can talk about situational and dramatic types of irony in different contexts. From The Last Leaf, The Gift of the Magi, and The Cop and the Anthem, one can see how ironically life takes its most unexpected turns.
Thus, The Last Leaf is the short story by O. Henry that can be called ironic in a tragic way: Behrman dies trying to save the life of Johnsy who has given up on her survival already. Having caught pneumonia, Johnsy convinces herself that she is going to die soon, and there seems to be nothing in the world that can make her change her mind: “Leaves. On the ivy vine. When the last one falls I must go, too. I've known that for three days”(The Last Leaf). Johnsy is emotionally weak and not prepared to face any challenges in the conditions she is in. The doctor warned Sue that Johnsy was unstable, and now Sue sees that he was right: Johnsy has found a reason not to fight for her life. Irrespective of how irrational this reason may seem to others, it is the only thing that Johnsy believes in, and in her current state it is the thing that can kill her.
Old Behrman, a painter living in the same building with two girls, decides to save Johnsy, although he is reluctant to make his plan public. In fact, he acts emotional and somewhat irritated when he learns about Johnsy’s idea...
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... looks at her weirdly because he does not like her without her hair, but little does she know that his look is only conditioned by the emerging uselessness of his present.
However, the most important outcome of this story is that there is a force that can be stronger than life itself. Facing financial difficulties, both Della and Jim sell their most valuable possessions to buy each other presents. In the end, love defeats irony and unfairness of life: “And now suppose you put the chops on”(The Gift of the Magi). Della and Jim proceed to dinner, without feeling any regret about material things and being happy to have each other. The reader cannot but feel emotionally excited and happy for the couple as they take their seeming misfortunes lightly and with humor. This story shows that life can be ironic and unfair but love is stronger than any unexpected twist of life.
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 Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "dramatic irony (literature)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. .
As I read Flannery O’Connor’s short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, I find myself being completely consumed by the rich tale that the author weaves; a tragic and ironic tale that concisely and precisely utilizes irony and foreshadowing with expert skill. As the story progresses, it is readily apparent that the story will end in a tragic and predictable state due to the devices which O’Connor expertly employs and thusly, I find that I cannot stop reading it; the plot grows thicker with every sentence and by doing so, the characters within the story are infinitely real in my mind’s eye. As I consider these factors, the story focuses on two main characters; that of the grandmother, who comes across as self-centered and self-serving and The Misfit, a man, who quite ingeniously, also appears to be self-centered and self-serving. It is the story behind the grandmother, however, that evidence appears to demonstrate the extreme differences between her superficial self and the true character of her persona; as the story unfolds, and proof of my thought process becomes apparently clear.
The “Gift of the Magi”, by O. Henry, is a short story that unfolds in an unanticipated and remarkable way that gently tugs the reader in which makes them want to continue reading. The story is about two characters named Della and Jim. For Christmas, Della cuts her hair to sell for money to buy Jim a chain for his watch while Jim sells his watch to buy Della some fancy combs. They both couldn’t use each other's gifts properly by reason of them sacrificing what they loved likewise finding delight in giving - what is foolish in the head, may be wise for the heart.
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
For example, a statement recognizing the theme through situational irony is revealed when the Jacobs writes, “And even if they could, now could two hundred pounds hurt you, Father?” (177). The reader may not expect that such a minuscule amount of money could make such a prodigious impact on society. Therefore, constructing situational irony, for the reader may have predicted the money to advance their lives, not make their lives completely miserable. Nevertheless, out of the greed in coveting to alter one’s life to a better perspective often precipitates unpleasant conclusions. In addition, a statement disclosing the identical irony is endorsed when Herbert announces, “‘Well don’t break into the money before I get back,’ said Herbert, as he rose from the table. ‘I’m afraid it’ll turn you into a mean, avaricious man, and we will have to discount you,’” (177). This is ironic because they do actually uncover the money before he returns, but the fact is that he never does arrive again. Also, the main point announces that Herbert is apprehensive that the money will convert him into an uncontrollable, greedy man, when in reality, they already have all of the qualities of rapacious human beings, due to their wish in having a more improved lifestyle. All in all, the element, irony, helps propose the theme of pessimistic aftermaths, while containing narcissistic
Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about life lessons and relied quite heavily on irony. He used it to keep a story entertaining but also to teach a life lesson. Also, Hawthorne did not write in the first person such as Emerson. Hawthorne’s work “The Ambitious Guest” uses several examples of irony to teach his lesson about planning on a life that is not guaranteed.
She oozes sexuality. Her every movement a tantalizing call to bed. She struts up and down her block wrapped in a peach embroidered halter-top and mini-skirt, black thigh high fishnet stockings, and a cigarette dangles from her lips revealing a voice that is a cement mixers snarl. A man, glances around nervously and, almost as if propelled by the bulge in his pants, adjusts his crotch as he, approaches her. Kaufman watches as the tawdry discussion comes to resolution. And he watches as she takes him into an alley. And he watches as she drops to her knees. He feels the gravel get caught between his knees and stockings. And he feels the smooth hard dick of a strange man sliding in and out of his mouth.
In conclusion, many examples are given throughout the novel that exemplifies all three types of irony: situational, verbal, and dramatic. There are many more examples, like Bernard wanting attention and John’s suicide. His suicide can be an example of irony, with the reader hoping that John (the revolutionist) might succeed, but John taking his own life. Irony plays a huge role in the book, pointing out that no society can be perfect and that some laws are broken by the creators themselves.
The irony at the end of this story is very interesting. O’ Connor forces the reader to wonder which characters are “Good Men”, perhaps by the end of the story she is trying to convey two points: first, that a discerning “Good Man” can be very difficult, second that a manipulative, self centered, and hollow character: The Grandmother is a devastating way to be, both for a person individually and for everyone else around them. The reader is at least left wondering if some or all of the clues to irony I provided apply in some way to the outcome of this story.
Surprise can lead to happiness, or surprise can lead to depression. Situational irony is when somebody expects something to go one way, but it really happens the exact opposite way. Situational irony can also change the reader’s mind in a way they will never believe. In “The Ransom of Red Chief,” O. Henry uses situational irony to amuse the reader. In “The Necklace,” Guy de Maupassant uses a feeling of compassion for the short story. In “The Ransom of Red Chief” and in “The Necklace,” O. Henry, Guy de Maupassant, and any author can use situational irony to affect the reader's emotions.
In the short story “The Gift of the Magi”, O.Henry uses different types of irony to demonstrate a particular theme of the story. The author uses two types of irony, dramatic and situational, to show the love that Della and Jim have for each other. There are different examples throughout the story that the author uses to indicate a certain theme in the story. One of these examples is when Della says, “I had my hair cut off and sold it because I couldn’t live through Christmas without giving you a present” (page 367) Della sells her most precious belonging in order to make Jim happy. She feels obligated to give Jim a present because of their love for each other. This is an example of situational irony because Jim bought Della combs to brush her
Westwood, M. “What are examples of Verbal, Situational< and Dramatic Irony in ‘The Story of an Hour.’” E-Notes. E-Notes, Inc., 30 Sept 2013. Web. 17 March 2014
... When she is picked, she begins to yell that the process is unfair. So, for her the lottery is an example of dramatic irony. Something that she thought unimportant becomes fatal for her. When the reader learns at the end of the story that the "prize" is death, is certainly situational irony.
It is a known fact of life that true love is hard to find in this day and age; one could say it is more plausible to find a needle in a haystack. True, sincere love, when found, is a real test to humanity. O.Henry, the author of the short story “The Gift of The Magi”, has written a masterpiece about a young couple who give everything they have for each other in order to show the great magnitude of their love. Della and James Young live in a poor suburb of New York where the young couple resides in a shabby apartment. They do not have much to give; however, it is Christmas Eve, so both are searching for a gift for the other. Both Della and James sacrifice their most valued gifts in order to please the other. O.Henry