Irony Blog Three

Irony is a technique that writers use to set up expectations in the readers mind. In the short story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, he uses both verbal and dramatic irony several times throughout the story to build suspense, and to foreshadow future events in the story for the reader. An example of irony in Poe’s short story would be the character Fortunato’s name. Fortunato’s name is Italian and the translation of his name stands for good fortune and luck. However, it is evident throughout the story that Fortunato is anything but fortunate or lucky. In reality, Fortunato is going to his death. Another example in the story where Poe used irony is when Montresor pretends to be concerned about the cough that Fortunato has. As both Montresor and Fortunato make their way deeper and deeper into the vaults, Montresor says, “We will go back. Your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, and beloved; you are happy as I once was. You are a man to be missed.” (Poe) Fortunato then replies to Montresor that he should not worry about his cough, “The cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I will not die of a cough.” (Poe). Montresor then replies to Fortunato, “True-True.” (Poe). At this point in the story it becomes evident to the reader that Montresor is plotting the death of Fortunato.

In Kate Chopin’s short story “The Story of an Hour" we can also find several examples of irony. Mrs. Mallard is an older lady who is told tragic news that her husband has been killed in a train accident. Upon hearing of the death of her husband Mrs. Mallard leaves to her room by herself, and everyone believes that she is completely distraught and mourning the death of her husband, when in reality she is overjoyed upon hearing of his death, “It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long.” (Chopin). It seems that her husband was an overbearing man who never let his wife accomplish the things she wanted to do in her life. Another example of irony in the story is the weather, outside it is bright, warm and beautiful which is completely opposite of the situation of her husbands death and the grief that people are meant to be experiencing when faced with such a tragic event in their life. Yet another example of irony in the story is the death of Mrs. Mallard. At the beginning of the story the reader is told of her present heart problems. At the end of the story as Mrs. Mallard is coming down the stairs she is shocked to see her husband walk in through the door, and upon seeing him she dies of heart disease.

In conclusion, both Poe and Chopin used irony effectively throughout their stories.