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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
Chapter 8
Explanation and Analysis—The Donut Maker:
In Chapter 8, Lily responds to Rosemary by using verbal irony. When Rosemary and Lily learn about the atomic bomb falling on Hiroshima, they stand beside a group of people staring at an automatic donut-making machine and ignoring the headlines right next to them. Lily tries to reason that the atomic bomb was justified, but Rosemary won't hear it:
[Rosemary] also decided there was something sick about Americans who would stand there gawking at a donut maker while there was so much agony on the other side of the world.
“Focus on the positive,” I said. “You live in a country where no one has to make donuts by hand.”
Instead of comforting Rosemary or further discussing it with her, Lily uses sarcasm to respond to Rosemary. She responds as though having an automatic donut-maker is better than being aware of the horrors your country is doing during war. As both Lily and Rosemary know she is not serious, this is an example of sarcasm and hence verbal irony.
Lily's use of verbal irony here further emphasizes the growing divide between her and her daughter. Rosemary wants to see the world and break free of the seemingly mundane life that her parents follow. However, Lily sees no point in this, as she believes Rosemary does not understand the importance of focusing on what she has and thinks her ideas are too overwhelming.
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