George Orwell- A Hanging
In George Orwell's "A Hanging", the roll of irony is distinctly present. Irony can be found in a lot of statements Orwell uses about how the prisoner that is about to be hanged. Irony is the use of comments by the writer to communicate with the reader on a subtle level. Orwell uses irony to show the reader how he is against capital punishment, instead of just stating that he is. Orwell seems to be struggling with the idea of death and through the use of irony, he describes how a man about to be hung, acts as if everything is normal. When the guards are walking the prisoner to the Gallows, the prisoner sidesteps a puddle. This passage shows that there is still instinct in the prisoner and that he doesn't quite feel like his life is over. "And once, in spite of the men who gripped him by each shoulder, he stepped slightly aside to avoid a puddle on the path." Even though the guard was holding him, he still managed to side step the puddle and avoid it as it may have made him uncomfortable. Also, he still has human instinct, because people tend to avoid what will make them uncomfortable, and walking through a puddle would do just that. This is ironic because he is about to die, and yet he doesn't want his feet to
The Superintendent would rather just get on with life, and not have to deal with the events that just took place, which can be related to Orwell's view on how capital punishment is wrong. I let go of the dog, and it galloped immediately to the back of the gallows; but when it got there it stopped short, barked, and then retreated into a corner of the yard, where it stood among the weeds, looking timorously out at us. " Orwell portrays the men moving on from this terrible event and is ironic that they could be so happy and joyous with a man they have just killed, hanging just a hundred yards away. 'Catch it, someone!'" Again, the superintendent is portrayed trying to get the job done and not have any interruptions. The dog represents life in this story of death and also helps to portray that Orwell is somehow struggling with death. "'Who let that bloody brute in here?' said the superintendent angrily. " Here Orwell is showing irony again by having a happy dog full of life in a story full of death. This use of irony shows the reader how much Orwell struggles with the idea of capital punishment, and how he just wants to get on with life, and forget that the man has been hung. Orwell portrays that the superintendent just wants to get on with it, and not have to deal with the feelings and thoughts of this man being hanged. "There was a clanking noise, and then dead silence. The dog running with the men and jumping around playfully also shows irony because he is happy and playful, not knowing what's going on with the humans around him. We all had a drink together, native and European alike, quite amicably. This use of irony makes for a strong image in the readers mind of his feelings.
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Acceptance Essays
