A ' Classic' Case of Irony

Irony as described by Merriam – Webster Dictionary is the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really think especially in order to be funny or a situation that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite of what you expected. Irony is part and parcel of our everyday lives and so is an inevitable part of Jane Austen’s Novels. Austen’s most famous novel – Pride and Prejudice is steeped in Irony of theme, situation, character and verbal.

‘Pride and Prejudice’ is considered to be the finest novel of Jane Austen, and is the work of art in the history of English Fiction. It has an incomparable freshness and sharpness of outline. In this novel we have an exhibition of Pride by Darcy and Prejudice by Elizabeth and their ultimate union at the end. There is a comedy of manners presented in a spirit of amusement devoid of bitterness and the characters portrayed by Austen form an integral part of this novel and if seen independently would not fit any other story as well as they do here.

                   

While reading Pride and prejudice, one is struck with a fact that Pride leads to Prejudice and Prejudice leads to Pride and Prejudice invites pride and both have their corresponding virtues bound up within them. The supreme irony is that of intricacy – which is deeper and carries much of dangers than simplicity. This type of thematic irony runs through all of Jane Austen’s novels.

Pride and Prejudice is also the best example of Situational Irony. It is an irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so the outcome is contrary to what was expected. Jane Austen’s Novels are really full of such ironies. An Illustration of it is that Darcy Proposes Elizabeth when she hates him the most and the second time this irony is seen when Lady Catherine DeBourgh, attempting to prevent the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth, acts as a catalyst in hastening it.

 

Another irony depicted in Austen’s Novels is the irony of Character. A character irony is when a character changes in a way the reader would not expect. Some of the instances that depict this are: Elizabeth who prides herself on her perception is quite blinded by her own prejudices, Wickham who is very decent and appears pure in his intentions turns out be an unprecedented villain, The Bingley sisters hated Bennett Sisters for their manners but they themselves did not have manners how to behave and talk to someone.

Jane Austen brings in another form Irony in Pride and Prejudice – Verbal Irony, which consists in a peculiar use of language in such a way that the meaning really intended is quite opposite to what it literally means. This irony is a result of Austen’s use of ironic tone in her narrative. The very first sentences of the novel are the best example of this irony, which states: it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. The meaning intended in the sentence and the gradually revealing action is just the opposite of the surface meaning. The fact is that quite a number of women wanted to marry a rich bachelor to secure their future (especially financially). One such example of such a woman was Charlotte Lucas, who married Mr. Collins only to financially secure herself.

Jane Austen is not bitter in her approach in using irony in Pride and Prejudice but rather her irony is comic. Austen used her irony to help her major characters come out of the Self – Deception and to expose the hypocrisy and pretentiousness of the society. Hence it can be concluded that Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a “Classic” case of Irony.