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Dialect
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
Part 2: The Desert
Explanation and Analysis—The Green Lantern:
While living in Battle Mountain, Nevada, Jeannette and her brother Brian become fascinated with an establishment called the Green Lantern. Ironically, the nature of the Green Lantern eludes them:
Mom said it was a cathouse, but I never saw any cats there, only women wearing bathing suits or short dresses who sat or lay out on the porch, waving at the cars that drove by. […] I couldn’t figure out what went on at the Green Lantern, and Mom refused to discuss it. She would say only that bad things happened there, which made the Green Lantern a place of irresistible mystery to us.
Related Themes:
Part 4: New York City
Explanation and Analysis—Professor Fuchs:
During a class at Barnard, Jeannette speaks up during a discussion on homelessness to suggest that perhaps homeless people “get the lives they want.” In a moment of dramatic irony, Jeannette’s beloved professor pushes back:
Unlock with LitCharts A+“Are you saying homeless people want to live on the street?” Professor Fuchs asked. […]
“Not exactly,” I said. I was fumbling for words. “They do. But if some of them were willing to work hard and make compromises, they might not have ideal lives, but they could make ends meet.”
Professor Fuchs walked around from behind her lectern. “What do you know about the lives of the underprivileged?” she asked. She was practically trembling with agitation. “What do you know about the hardships and obstacles that the underclass faces?”
[...]
“You have a point,” I said.
Related Themes:
