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Irony In 'Ransom Of Red Chief'

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Did you know irony is used in many different stories because it can be very versatile. There are three different kinds of irony: situational, dramatic, and verbal. Situational irony is when something that is not expected happens. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something the characters within the media do not. Verbal irony is when someone says one thing but means the opposite. In these short stories authors use dramatic irony to add humor, situational irony to develop the characters, and verbal irony to illustrate a theme.
Roald Dahl's story “Lamb to the Slaughter,” dramatic irony is used to add humor. When Mary was at the grocer for vegetables he asked her a question. He asked, “Then how about meat, Mrs Maloney?” (Dahl 184). This …show more content…

Henry’s short story “Ransom of Red Chief,” situational irony is used to develop the characters. When Bill returns from bringing the Dorset’s the ransom letter, he finds Bill coming back and says he’s sent the boy home. The narrator tells Bill, “‘Then you might turn around,’ says I, ‘and have a look behind you.’ Bill turns and sees the boy.” (Henry 80). Red Chief has been tormenting Bill since they first got him, and Bill was sick and tired of it. This is situational irony because you would expect Red Chief to go back home after he’s been kidnapped. When Ebenezer Dorset sent a reply to the ransom letter he explained that he wasn’t going to pay any ransom fee, and actually he would take Johnny if they paid him 250 dollars. After that the letter says, “You had better come at night, for the neighbors believe he is lost, and I couldn't be responsible for what they would do to anybody they saw bringing him back.” (Henry 86). This shows that the neighbors are actually very happy that he is gone because he is such a menace. The Dorsets don’t specifically care for their child (they didn’t ask if he was alright or was hurt) but they understand that it’s their responsibility to home Red Chief. This is situational irony because it’s expected that parents and neighbors would want their child back, but these parents don’t. Situational irony is used to develop the characters in O. Henry’s short story “Ransom of Red

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