CP/M/CPM_CDROM.iso/mbug/mbug186.arc/IRONY.NTS

Text File | 1979-12-31 | 2KB | 46 lines

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Irony has two meanings and examples of both can be found in
this play.

In its general sense irony refers to a kind of twist of fate
where the result of an action 'bounces back' and affects the
person who committed that action.
When Juliet takes Friar Lawrence's drug to deceive her family
into thinking that she is dead there is a bitter irony in the
fact that she also deceives Romeo who commits suicide in
despair.

Similarly there is irony when Romeo comes between Mercutio
and Tybalt to prevent them from fighting only to allow Tybalt
to stab Mercutio under his arm.
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Even more important in the play is 'dramatic' irony. This is
when the audience are in on a secret but one or more
characters are unaware.

A prime example is when Capulet and his wife believe that
Juliet is in mourning for Capulet when really she is weeping
because Romeo has been banished.

This type of irony adds another level of meaning to many of
the words of the play.
For instance Lady Capulet's words
Tonight she's mewed up to her heaviness.  IIIiv
have a double meaning.
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The supreme example of dramatic irony in this play is to be
found in Act III scene v.
Here Juliet and her mother carry on a complete conversation
in which Juliet's side has two levels.

On one level she seems to be mourning Tybalt and wishing for
revenge against Romeo as her mother does.
On another level we can see how her words reveal her love for
Romeo and how she longs to be with him.

Shakespeare's skill lies in weaving the threads of irony into
the play in an appropriate way. For exam purposes learn one
or two speeches which contain dramatic irony so that you can
use these as examplesin your essay if necessary.