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An Analysis of the Usage of Irony Frank R. Stockton

Irony is commonly used for the comical purpose. American writer and humorist Frank R. Stockton show that irony can be the used for a variety of purpose such as creating suspense and make a theme.

Frank R. Stockton was well known for his usage of suspense and hanging ending. Stockton heavily relied on irony to achieve suspense and create a theme. In his short story The Lady and the Tiger; he used irony to give the story a conflict. Later, in the continuation of “The Lady, or the Tiger: The Discourager of Hesitancy, he used irony to create a dilemma in which a man must find his true wife from a group of equally beautiful.

In the Lady or the Tiger, he used irony to give the story its rising action and climax. The lover of the princess is facing the choice of life or death; he must rely on the princess herself. The princess herself must decide whether to have him killed or saved. From the surface, one will believe that the princess will save her lover. However, ironically, the option to save him is not all that simple. In order to save her lover, she must give him up to a woman she deeply hated. We can see her thoughts as she consider her impending decision. This process created suspense for the audience. As the reader continual on,

Irony can also be used as the theme. Stockton used irony to prove to use that one must not be haste in making decisions. The prince hastily made the decision to ask a king for a wife. The king, in order to punish him, gives him a wife. Before the men can celebrate, the king gave him the catch; he must find his wife while throughout the wedding he is blindfolded. The prince now must slowly down to consider which one is actually his wife. He then slows down and must consider his options. After rational thoughts, he found his true wife and lived happily ever after.

Frank R. Stockton has brilliantly used irony in his writings to make them fun and exciting to read and enjoy. He have given us