Irony
Irony, by definition, is the use of words to express something different from and often contradicts their literal meaning. Irony, however, is found in various forms, verbal, situational, and dramatic. Authors such as Hemingway and O. Henry use several methods and devices to create this sense of irony in their stories. In "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber," Hemingway uses numerous methods to express all different types irony in his story. Macomber is first described by Hemingway as, "he was thirty-five years old, kept himself very fit, was good at court games, had a number of big game fishing record," but ironically enough we soon learn that Francis has tried to shoot a lion and failed,
and was instead running from the wounded animal in fear, a form of situational irony. Henry use dissimilar methods, but for the same intention. Henry adds mainly comedic effect to the story to promote the sense of irony. Dorset the ransom letter for Red Chief asking for $1500, Mr. " This is ironic because in the bible Herod ordered all the first born males to be killed, a remark obviously directed at Red Chief. When Wilson thinks to himself, "I hope the silly beggar doesn't take a notion to blow the back of my head off," irony is evident because Margot ends up shooting her husband, Francis in the back of his head. The story takes place in, "a town, down there, as flat as a funnel cake, and called Summit," which is ironic given that a summit is the peak of a mountain. " Though unrealistic, Dorset's humorous response creates the situational irony in this story. Later, when Francis tells Margot that he shot the eland, she replies, "They're not dangerous, are they?" Being that she is Macomber's wife, this demeaning insinuation at Francis' lack of courage is verbally ironic. The story is about two guys kidnapping a small boy in order to receive ransom, but the boy they choose to kidnap turns out to be a huge nuisance to them. Irony in all its forms can be found in almost any story, despite the difference in purpose and literary elements involved, because of the augmented impact it has on its stories. This is ironic because the story takes place while on an African safari, which is the only place she could succeed in doing such a thing. Dorset replies with an offer of his own, "You bring Johnny home and pay me two hundred and fifty dollars in cash, and I agree to take him off your hands. The use of irony in stories helps to create interest and most often humor.
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