The Garden Party

by Katherine Mansfield

The Garden Party: Irony 2 key examples

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
Irony
Explanation and Analysis—Simply Marvelous:

At the story’s powerful end, Laura’s brother Laurie tries to comfort her after he sees her crying on the road: 

Laurie put his arm round her shoulder. “Don’t cry,” he said in his warm, loving voice. “Was it awful?”

“No,” sobbed Laura. “It was simply marvellous.” 

Explanation and Analysis—Dreadfully Unsympathetic:

Mansfield uses verbal irony to highlight the Sheridan family’s emotional detachment and ignorance:

[Jose] looked mournfully and enigmatically at her mother and Laura as they came in. 

This Life is Wee-ary

A Tear—a Sigh.

A Love that Chan-ges,

This Life is Wee-ary,

A Tear—a Sigh.

A Love that Chan-ges,

And then … Good-bye!

But at the word “Good-bye,” and although the piano sounded more desperate than ever, her face broke into a brilliant, dreadfully unsympathetic smile. “Aren’t I in good voice, mummy?” she beamed.

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