The Dressmaker

by Rosalie Ham

The Dressmaker: Irony 1 key example

Definition of Irony

Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how they actually are. If this seems like a loose definition... read full definition
Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how they actually are. If this... read full definition
Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how... read full definition
Chapter 27
Explanation and Analysis—Shakespeare:

The Dressmaker contains a number of allusions to Shakespeare. Macbeth receives the most attention, since the townspeople put on a production of it, but they also refer to other works—such as his sonnets and Romeo and Juliet. Over the course of the novel, Ham combines these Shakespearean allusions with dramatic irony to mock the townspeople's lack of awareness. Despite their eagerness about the production, they don't seem to know much about either the play or playwright. This creates a bond between Tilly, the narrator, and the reader, who together witness the townspeople's stubborn ignorance.