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Definition of Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony is a plot device often used in theater, literature, film, and television to highlight the difference between a character's understanding of a given situation, and that of the... read full definition
Dramatic irony is a plot device often used in theater, literature, film, and television to highlight the difference between a character's understanding of a given... read full definition
Dramatic irony is a plot device often used in theater, literature, film, and television to highlight the difference between a... read full definition
Key Examples in Memoirs of a Geisha
Chapter 25
Explanation and Analysis—The War:
As World War II rages on, resources become increasingly inaccessible, even in Gion. In a scene marked with dramatic irony, Mameha uses logos in order to convince Mother to accept General Tottori, rather than Nobu, as a danna for Sayuri.
“Those of us in Gion have been fortunate so far,” Mameha said. “But shortages will affect us, if the war continues.”
"I’m sure they would, if the war continued,” Mother said. “This war will be over in six months.”
“And when it is, the military will be in a stronger position than ever before. Mrs. Nitta, please don’t forget that General Tottori is the man who oversees all the resources of the military. No one in Japan is in a better position to provide you with everything you could want, whether the war continues or not.”
Explanation and Analysis—Yellow Pickles:
In a passage marked with dramatic irony, Mother fails to recognize that her yellowed teeth are the result of her nonstop pipe-smoking. When she sees Sayuri eating yellow pickles, she warns her against them, falsely suspecting that they stain a person's teeth due to their own yellow color:
Unlock with LitCharts A+After a time she put down her pipe and said, “You shouldn’t eat those yellow pickles. They’ll rot your teeth. Look at what they did to mine.”
It had never occurred to me that Mother believed her stained teeth had anything to do with eating pickles. When she’d finished giving me a good view of her mouth, she picked up her pipe again and took in a puff of smoke.
“Auntie loves yellow pickles, ma’am,” I said, “and her teeth are fine.”
“Who cares if Auntie’s teeth are fine?"
Related Themes:
