A Brief Tip for Writing About the Irony of a Situation

Irony prevents us from taking things at face value. When you analyze situational irony you will want to note the dissonance between what is explicitly stated and what is implied by behavior or the actual setting.

For example, there is irony when a person gives an impassioned speech about the need for young people to learn that they cannot resolve their conflicts through the use of violence and 24 hours later ordering a bombing campaign to “resolve” an international conflict. There is irony when peaceful protestors are criticized as being “trouble-makers” because they live in a free society that allows people to protest – and only trouble-makers would protest in such a society. There is irony when a magazine publishes an article about the emotional harm of teaching young girls to measure their worth based how closely they resemble professional fashion models followed by an advertisement that promises readers a happier life if they purchase a product that will give them fashion model slimness.

You will want to ask yourself: What is ironic about this situation? Why can’t the actors in this situation see, or appreciate, this irony? If they can see and appreciate the irony how do the actors in this situation reconcile themselves to it (how do they rationalize it)?

When we pay attention to irony we disabuse ourselves of the habit of judging by appearances and taking statements at face value.