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Definition of Verbal Irony
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. When there's a hurricane raging outside and someone remarks "what... read full definition
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. When there's a hurricane raging... read full definition
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean... read full definition
Chapter 10
Explanation and Analysis—Blinkers:
Ginger, a horse who becomes a close friend of Black Beauty, delivers one of the most memorable instances of verbal irony in this novel. Commenting to Sir Oliver on the use of blinkers—devices that restrict a horse's peripheral vision—Ginger sardonically remarks:
I should say [...] that these men, who are so wise, had better give orders that in future all foals should be born with their eyes set just in the middle of their foreheads, instead of on the side; they always think they can improve upon Nature and mend what God has made.
Ginger is stating here that if humans desired horses to only look straight ahead, they might as well "give orders" concerning the precise placement of horses' eyes. On its face, the statement appears silly; humans cannot literally dictate where horses' eyes are when they are born.
However, beneath this statement lies Ginger's critique of the use of blinkers. Using this verbal irony, she insinuates that just as it's absurd to think humans can order where a horse's eyes should look, it's equally unreasonable to expect horses not to experience fear or anxiety when their vision is limited by blinkers. Devices like these prevent horses from seeing anything that isn’t directly in front of them. However, while intended to keep horses focused, blinkers often exacerbate their anxiety. They can't see potential threats or distractions on their sides, but they can still hear all the sounds around them.
Ginger's ironic comment doesn’t only shed light on the impracticality of blinkers. It also emphasizes a broader theme of the novel: the frequent misunderstanding or disregard humans have for the natural instincts and needs of animals. Because the horses are presented as intelligent beings in this book, the idea that blinkers would prevent them from being spooked is made to seem impractical and demeaning. Ginger’s irony in this passage serves as a reminder of the often misguided ways animals were treated by their owners.
Related Themes:
