SHORT STORY

Red Letter Day Josce Cary

Done byDone by

Hessah Saleh Al-DayelHessah Saleh Al-Dayel

Supervised bySupervised by Dr. Mongi Raddadi

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Irony in Red Letter DayIrony is a technique of narration in fiction in

which the narrator’ s tone suggests to the reader that he or she should not take what is said at face value,for the intended meaning may be the opposite of what is apparently being said. In other words it has a humorous effect produced when a surface meaning has other deeper meaning representing the writers true intention. In Red Letter Day this device is used by Joyce Cary to reveal (show) the contrast between the old man ‘s illusions and the harsh reality of the young couple. Two forms of irony are used by the writer

Verbal .Dramatic .

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Joyce Cary used verbal irony which involves discrepancy between what is said and what is really meant.From the beginning of the story,the writer is being ironic about the old man ‘s visit his niece.This is clear in “He must go”,he thinks that he must visit them because he has family duties.However,his visit is not expected by his niece and her husband because they are selfish and like others enjoy much happiness,they hated the least interruption of it.Irony in this story is clear in the old man’s statemants as “How nice they are,how nice that was,is that your best dolly,how charming they are,how nice she is,how pretty that is”.The old man believes that the picture of his niece and her daughter is pretty ,but the fact is the opposite.They are not nice because they are waiting for his death.Further,they do not take care about his feeling.This shows how the meaning that the speaker implies differs sharply from the meaning that is expressed.

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A similar sense of detached superiority is achieved by dramatic irony,in which the audience knows more about a character’s situation than the character does,for seeing an outcome contrary to the character’s expectation thus ascribing a sharply different sense to some of the character’s own statements.

In this story ,the old man thinks that he is expected by his niece but in deed he is not.Thus the statement(He was expected)is a dramatic irony,because the reader shares with the writer knowledge that the main character,the old is unaware(ignorant) of.(I am rather early,are not I)is another example,he thinks that he is early,but he is not.The old man’s niece does not except his visit.Further,she wants him to leave.However,she says(Do not,do not getup)and she kisses his forehead,gently pushing him back into the chair(The old man hears the whispering,but gives it no attention),because he is an old man.He thinks that it is easy to lose his enjoyment because his niece

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and her husband are precious but in fact they do not deserve .This is clear in(How easy it was to lose touch with simple ordinary enjoyment and how precious they were),(Really-that is hardly).

This dramatic irony shows that his relatives want his wealth thus, they are waiting for his death.

In conclusion,Red letter Day is a story that is full of irony Joyce Cary uses two forms of irony verbal and dramatic.And he succeeded when he show us the contrast between illusions and the harsh reality.Moreover,the reader enjoys such ironic situations and statemants.