Situational Irony

Death on the Nile

by Agatha Christie

Death on the Nile: Situational Irony 1 key example

Chapter Twenty-Five 
Explanation and Analysis—Lord Dawlish:

In Chapter 25, Poirot reveals to Miss Van Schuyler that the young communist upstart Ferguson is, in fact, a wealthy nobleman. The moment is full of situational irony—not only because Ferguson's background doesn't line up with his ideals, but also because Miss Van Schuyler has spent the entire trip trying to make powerful and wealthy acquaintances. 

“You recognized him, I suppose?”

“Recognized him?”

“Calls himself Ferguson and won’t use his title because of his advanced ideas.”

“His title?” Miss Van Schuyler’s tone was sharp.

“Yes, that’s young Lord Dawlish. Rolling in money, of course, but he became a communist when he was at Oxford.”