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Definition of Verbal Irony
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. When there's a hurricane raging outside and someone remarks "what... read full definition
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. When there's a hurricane raging... read full definition
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean... read full definition
Scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Liquor Goes Fast:
A moment of verbal irony occurs when Stanley picks up and inspects the bottle of whiskey that Blanche has been drinking from after arriving in New Orleans. As he holds the bottle up to the light, he comments:
STANLEY: Liquor goes fast in hot weather.
[He holds the bottle to the light to observe its depletion]
Related Themes:
Scene 2
Explanation and Analysis—50% Illusion:
During the interaction in Scene 2 where she’s being interrogated about the Belle Reve papers, Blanche teasingly (and ironically) “admits” to her tendency to deceive people. She does so by making a general statement about how women behave:
Unlock with LitCharts A+BLANCHE: I know I fib a good deal. After all, a woman's charm is fifty percent illusion.
Related Themes:
