Situational Irony In 'Ransom Of Redchief'

Surprise, something that authors can use to their advantage to fill the reader with emotion. This is called situational irony. this can create a sense of mixed emotion using situational irony. Situational irony is when in the plot, there is an unexpected twist. Examine the two stories; “Ransom Of Redchief” by O. Henry, and “The Necklace” by Guy De Maupasset, both authors use situational irony to create an unexpected twist. By looking at both of these stories, we can imply that authors can adopt situational irony to surprise the reader.

The boy should be scared, but instead, Red Chief is very happy to be abducted in “Ransom Of Redchief” by O. Henry. He is having the time of his life living in a cave and toying with Bill, constantly wanting him to play indians with him. “Yes sir, that boy seemed to be having the time of his life” (40) said Old Hank. The boy

Ten years of payments, all for just one fake necklace that is worth at the most five hundred francs. Matilde went through torture for ten years because she lost a fake necklace that was worth five hundred francs, and she thought it was real so Matilde ended up having to replace it for a new one, wasting thirty six thousand francs. “‘... But mine was only imitation. It was worth at the most five hundred francs;...’” (8). Not only did she waste lots of money to replace a fake necklace, but Matilde ended up being the poorest of the poor, when she thought she should be the richest of the rich. "She had become like all the other strong, hard, coarse, women of poor households… and thought of that evening long ago… of the ball which she had been so beautiful and so much admired” (7). This gives the reader a sense of justice because Matilde tries to be rich but she ends up being the opposite, and also a sense of sadness for her because she became the poorest of the poor because she lost the necklace, therefore putting her in a world of