Rooted in the contrast between what the audience knows and what the characters of the story are aware of, dramatic irony can be found in various forms of literature, from ancient tragedies to modern novels.
It can be used to create intrigue, humor, and suspense, and it’s a great way to keep an audience engaged.
Because of its ability to keep audiences engaged, it’s a common element in stage dramas.
Let’s look into some examples and tips for writing dramatic irony.
What is dramatic irony?
Dramatic irony refers to the literary and theatrical device where the reader/audience knows something of a fictional world of story that the characters do not. This can increase the tension in a scene.
For example, if two characters are walking over a bridge in a park, thinking everything is fine, that’s a rather calm scene. But if we, as readers, know that there’s a rotten pylon and an angry alligator waiting in the water, it gets a little more exciting.
Dramatic irony is not to be confused with situational irony, which is another literary device where the opposite of what you would expect to happen, is what happens.
This usually leads to the consequences being either tragic or funny. Or both.
There’s also verbal irony, which is when a character says one thing, but they mean the exact opposite. This could be something said with derision, or with the purpose of humor. It’s of note that this is the only type of irony where a character actually creates it.
One way to create dramatic irony is to have a portion of the story told through the point-of-view of someone else.
This might be a side character, antagonist, or omniscient narrator. This gives the audience the opportunity to know something the main character does not know. This is a good strategy for building tension or telling a more dynamic story.
Using several point-of-views can create a complex and interesting narrative that reveals a lot more about the characters and their relationships. This lets the audience get close to each of them, understanding their motivations and thoughts more, then with all of that information, we can watch how the characters interact with one another and have a much clearer idea of their reasoning.
Why use dramatic irony
There are really two main reasons an author might employ the use of dramatic irony in their story:
1. Humor
Dramatic irony can be used for humor when the audience has information the character does not, resulting in humorous anticipation or a comedic misunderstanding.
2. Tension and suspense
In the same way, dramatic irony can be used to create tension when the audience has a Spookier piece of information that the character does not. This is the scene where we know a murderer is hiding in the bathroom with a machete, but our protagonist just got home and started cooking dinner, having no idea what’s waiting for them.
Both situations rely on the audience’s knowledge gap compared to the character’s, and this difference in awareness can be used in different ways to create different emotional effects.
Dramatic irony mistakes to avoid
Here are some pitfalls to watch out for when writing with dramatic irony.
1. Overusing dramatic irony
Like any literary device, dramatic irony can be overused. If every situation in your story relies heavily on dramatic irony, it can become predictable and lose its narrative impact. Use dramatic irony strategically and sparingly to preserve its effectiveness.
2. Being too heavy-handed
Subtlety is important in any type of writing. If we’re too blatant with a concept, the story can seem unrealistic and patronizing. The audience should have just enough clues to understand what’s happening without it feeling like they are being spoon fed. Subtlety is key in maintaining the effectiveness of dramatic irony.
3. Using inconsistent characterization
The whole point of dramatic irony is that the audience knows things the character doesn’t—that means the character’s actions should reflect the knowledge they actually have. If they start acting on things they aren’t supposed to know, it stops being dramatic irony and starts being bad writing.
4. Leaving it hanging
While dramatic irony is a strong tool for building suspense, tension, and humor, it’s imperative that it pays off in the end. If you don’t resolve the dramatic irony, you can leave audiences feeling unsatisfied or confused. Think of the narrative convention Chekhov’s Gun. If you introduce a point of mystery, suspense, or threat, it should pay off by the end of the story.
Avoid these four common mistakes to effectively use dramatic irony in your own writing.
Famous examples of dramatic irony
Dramatic irony is used in many different genres and narratives. Nearly every Shakespeare play operates on some form of dramatic irony. Here are just a few examples of dramatic irony and why each piece employs the device:
1. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
In this comedic play, the audience knows that the main character is leading a double life and using the name Ernest. However, the other characters, including his love interest, know nothing of it. The audience’s knowledge of the deception adds humor and irony to the situations that arise in the story.
2. The Crucible by Arthur Miller
In this play, the audience knows that the accusations of witchcraft in Salem are baseless, but the other characters fervently believe that the women are evil witches. We see their fear and the chaos and tragedy that comes from it. The audience knowing that their fears are baseless gives a sense of sorrow, anger, and other such emotions toward the characters who act in unfounded fear, ignorance, and prejudice.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This novel lets the audience know that the Black man who has been accused of rape is innocent. The jury acts on racial bias, ultimately finding him guilty of the crime he did not commit. The dramatic irony lies in the contrast between the audience’s awareness of the truth and the unjust outcome of the trial.
4. Othello by William Shakespeare
In Shakespeare’s tragedy, the audience knows that Iago is manipulating Othello the whole time, planting seeds of jealousy and doubt in Othello’s mind. Othello remains oblivious to Iago’s intentions, and this creates a sense of impending doom as the audience watches the events of the story unfold.
5. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
In the psychological thriller by Gillian Flynn, the audience follows two perspectives: a husband in the present day and a wife through her journal entries. The story employs dramatic irony through these alternating narrations, revealing the hidden agendas of each character. The audience becomes aware of the characters’ deceptive actions and motivations, while the characters themselves remain unaware of each other’s true intentions. About halfway through the story, a huge plot twist is revealed to the audience, further widening the gap between the reader’s understanding and the characters’. (Great book, you should read it.)
6. The Prestige (2006)
In this film about rival magicians, the audience becomes aware of a major twist involving how one magician performs a famous trick. The dramatic irony lies in the audience’s knowledge of the truth of the illusion (and other illusions in the film), while the characters themselves remain unaware until the film’s climax. (This movie is crazy, and you should watch it if you haven’t.)
7. The Village (2004)
This M. Night Shyamalan film utilizes dramatic irony in a pretty wild and famous way. (Spoilers ahead, but it’s been out for twenty years, so that’s kind of on you.) The story takes place in a secluded 19th-century village. The village elders perpetuate a belief that mysterious creatures plaguing the village are very dangerous, and that if any villager ventures into the woods, they will die.
The dramatic irony emerges when the audience discovers the creatures are actually elaborate costumes and illusions created by the elders to keep the “villagers” controlled and secluded from the modern world. The audience is aware of this deception, while the characters in the film remain unaware.
These are only a few examples of dramatic irony. Dramatic irony serves as a powerful tool in the hands of skilled storytellers. It is capable of eliciting a range of emotions from humor and suspense to tragedy and reflection. Its ability to create tension and keep audiences engaged has solidified its place as a beloved, timeless literary device.
By harnessing the juxtaposition between the audience’s knowledge and the characters’ ignorance to guild tension and engage readers, dramatic irony might be the perfect tool to take your story to the next level.