The Portrait of a Lady: Irony 8 key examples

Isabel’s decision to marry Osmond is an example of situational irony for a few different reasons. First, she accepts his proposal after turning down two other men (Goodwood and Lord Warburton)—not because she doesn’t like them, but because she wants to keep her “liberty.” This is ironic because, in marrying Osmond, she completely forfeits this liberty.

In an example of situational irony, Ralph asks his father, Mr. Touchett, before he dies to leave a significant sum of money to Isabel so that she can be “free,” as seen in the following passage:

“Her marrying—some one or other? It’s just to do away with anything of that sort that I make my suggestion. If she has an easy income she’ll never have to marry for a support. That’s what I want cannily to prevent. She wishes to be free, and your bequest will make her free.”

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In an example of situational irony, when Isabel joins Mrs. Touchett on a visit to Paris, she judges the American expatriates harshly for flaunting their wealth, as seen in the following passage:

She made up her mind that their lives were, though luxurious, inane, and incurred some disfavour by expressing this view on bright Sunday afternoons, when the American absentees were engaged in calling on each other

[…]

“You all live here this way, but what does it lead to?” she was pleased to ask. “It doesn’t seem to lead to anything, and I should think you’d get very tired of it.”

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Before the narrator has officially introduced readers to Osmond or Pansy, Madame Merle goes to visit them at Osmond’s villa in Florence. In an example of foreshadowing, Madame Merle tells Pansy that she will have a new mother one day, as seen in the following passage:

“Shall you miss mother Catherine?” she went on.

“Yes—when I think of her.”

“Try then not to think of her. Perhaps some day,” added Madame Merle, “you’ll have another mother.”

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In an example of dramatic irony, Isabel believes that Madame Merle is innocently introducing Isabel to her friend Osmond when, in reality—as readers know—she is introducing Isabel to Osmond in the hopes that they will be married. The irony is most apparent when Madame Merle slips up by commending Isabel on how “charming” she was in front of Osmond and Isabel responds in a confused and defensive manner, not knowing that she was expected to be so:

[Madame Merle] said to her in a few moments: “You were charming, my dear; you were just as one would have wished you. You’re never disappointing.”

A rebuke might possibly have been irritating, though it is much more probable that Isabel would have taken it in good part; but, strange to say, the words that Madame Merle actually used caused her the first feeling of displeasure she had known this ally to excite. “That’s more than I intended,” she answered coldly. “I’m under no obligation that I know of to charm Mr Osmond.”

Madame Merle perceptibly flushed.

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In an example of both foreshadowing and irony, several different characters in the novel tell Isabel not to marry Osmond since, they believe, he is just using her for her wealth and she will end up unhappy.

This is an example of foreshadowing, as Isabel does go on to be very unhappy in her marriage to Osmond, who wants her money but does not value her as the independent person that she is. It’s simultaneously an example of situational irony because Isabel believes incorrectly—yet confidently—that she knows Osmond better than anyone else, viewing him as a humble art collector deserving of her love and financial support.

The following conversation between Isabel and Ralph captures the irony of Isabel’s resistance to her loved ones’ critiques of her fiancé:

“How little you trust me!”

There was a moment’s silence; the warm noon-tide seemed to listen. “I trust you, but I don’t trust him,” said Ralph.

She raised her eyes and gave him a wide, deep look. “You’ve said it now, and I’m glad you’ve made it so clear. But you’ll suffer by it.”

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In an example of situational irony, near the end of the novel Osmond believes that Isabel is trying to stop Pansy’s engagement to Lord Warburton because she is jealous, when really she is trying to save Pansy from marrying a man who is using Pansy to get to Isabel.

Part of the irony of this situation is that Osmond accuses Isabel of sabotaging the engagement and she denies it, despite the fact that she has sabotaged it, just for reasons completely counter to what Osmond suspects. The irony comes through in the following passage when Osmond accuses Isabel of “working against” him and she has trouble figuring out how to respond:

“If you really wish hands laid on Lord Warburton you must lay them yourself.”

For a couple of minutes Osmond answered nothing; then he said: “That won’t be easy, with you working against me.”

Isabel started; she felt herself beginning to tremble […] “I think you accuse me of something very base,” she returned.

“I accuse you of not being trustworthy. If he doesn’t after all come forward it will be because you’ve kept him off.”

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In an example of situational irony, the American-bred, independence-oriented Henrietta Stackpole marries the British Mr. Bantling and settles down with him in London. The follow passage shows how Isabel and Henrietta both see the irony in Henrietta’s choice:

[Isabel] greeted with a quick laugh the image that her companion had raised. She immediately recovered herself, however, and with the right excess of intensity, “Henrietta Stackpole,” she asked, “are you going to give up your country?”

“Yes, my poor Isabel, I am. I won’t pretend to deny it; I look the fact in the face. I’m going to marry Mr Bantling and locate right here in London.”

“It seems very strange,” said Isabel, smiling now.

“Well yes, I suppose it does. I’ve come to it little by little. I think I know what I’m doing; but I don’t know as I can explain.”

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