Situational Irony In Ransom Of Red Chief

Bill Nye once said, “Humor is everywhere in that there's irony in just about anything a human does.” Like Mr. Nye had stated irony most often is a humorous thing. To illustrate, in Ransom of Red chief by O. Henry, situational irony plays a role in surprising the reader to create humor. Although, Ransom of Red chief creates a big a element of humor using situational irony, “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant does not. In The Necklace situational irony is used to create a sense of sympathy for the characters. Even though the two stories create two different feelings for the readers situational irony is used to create a unexpected twist.

In the story “Ransom of Red Chief” by O. Henry situational irony helps this short story to be a humorous piece of fiction. In particular, when Bill and Sam, the two kidnappers, abduct Johnny Dorset, Son of his wealthy father, Ebenezer Dorset. The two kidnappers expect Johnny to be scared to never see his family again. However Red chief is having a blast out in the wilderness. He is having more fun in the cave than he would have at home. As Sam and Bill watch Johnny play, the narrator says. “Yes, sir that boy seemed to be having the time of his life. The fun of camping out in a cave had made him forget he was captive himself” (40). Using situational irony, O. Henry, the author, creates a humorous element when Red Chief is in life threatening place. Also another instance of situational irony in “Ransom of Red Chief” is after the kidnappers have spent many days with Johnny and are asking

For example, an amusing story O. Henry’s “Ransom of Redchief, and Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace,” a story that makes the reader feel bad for the main characters, it is obvious that authors can use situational irony manipulate emotions from their readers. Often life seems to be filled with irony. Unexpected outcomes are part of every single day and are mostly