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Situational Irony
Chapter 1
Explanation and Analysis:
Charles Portis utilizes a distinctive style characterized by Mattie Ross's formal syntax, business-like tone, and educated prose, which is instrumental in both developing her unique character and subverting the conventional expectations of the Western genre. Mattie's language is notably educated and precise, even when describing violent events. This rigorous, unadorned approach immediately establishes her intelligence and resolve.
In Chapter 1, Mattie reflects on her practical nature:
I do not boast of my own gifts in that direction. Figures and letters are not everything. Like Martha I have always been agitated and troubled by the cares of the day but my mother had a serene and loving heart. She was like Mary and had chosen "that good part."
In this passage, Mattie uses a biblical allusion to Mary and Martha, demonstrating a classical education that seems utterly at odds with the rugged frontier setting she inhabits. Her elevated diction establishes her as a serious and intelligent narrator, suggesting a maturity far beyond her 14 years. This rigorous, formal style, contrasted with the rough, lawless world she describes, creates the novel’s pervasive deadpan and dry humor. This humor, in part, establishes Mattie as an independent figure whose capacity for clarity and pragmatism defines her “grit.” By employing this direct style and highly formal diction, Mattie makes quick, uncompromising judgments and is able to act decisively during her quest, lending her narrative credibility and force.
Related Themes:
