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Unreliable Narrator
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
Letters 1–10
Explanation and Analysis—Lady Susan and Frederica:
In Letter 7, written from Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson, Lady Susan claims that she is “sure” of Sir James’s affection for Frederica, and could, at any time, “make him renew his application by a Line." Only a few sentences later, however—in a stark example of verbal irony—she states:
Some Mothers would have insisted on their daughter’s accepting so great an offer on the first overture, but I could not answer it to myself to force Frederica into a marriage from which her heart revolted.
These two statements blatantly contradict one another. In her first statement, Lady Susan claims to hold such power over her daughter’s suitor that she would be able to, simply by asking, have him renew his intentions; yet later on, she asserts that she would not force her daughter into a match. This instance of verbal irony reveals the myriad nuances of Lady Susan's character. On the one hand, she thinks very highly of herself, and this extends to her perception of her personal accomplishments as a mother. Lady Susan's fundamental arrogance contrasts, on the other hand, with the reality of her ambivalent—verging on combative and neglectful—relationship with her daughter.
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Explanation and Analysis—Lady S. and Mrs. Vernon:
In the following passage from the fourth letter, Lady Susan discusses her sister-in-law, Catherine Vernon, with Mrs. Johnson. Lady Susan's status as an unreliable narrator and manipulator feed into and contribute to verbal irony, generating a passage that perhaps serves to obscure a more accurate view of events:
I wanted her to be delighted at seeing me—I was as amiable as possible on the occasion—but all in vain—she does not like me. To be sure, when we consider that I did take some pains to prevent my Brother-in-law’s marrying her, this want of cordiality is not very surprising—and yet it shews an illiberal and vindictive spirit to resent a project which influenced me six years ago, and which never succeeded at last.
Lady Susan claims that she did all that she could to please her sister-in-law; however, since she has been established as an unreliable narrator, her words likely contradict her actions. She states that she wants her sister-in-law to like her; and, indeed, Lady Susan also claims to like her sister-in-law, but the reader cannot take this claim at face value. On the opposing side, Mrs. Vernon cannot be entirely absolved of blame: she clearly has a certain level of bias against Lady Susan. No matter how merited that bias may be, it still prevents Mrs. Vernon from being an objective narrator.
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Letters 11–20
Explanation and Analysis—Lady Susan's Sarcasm:
Remarking on her daughter's attempted escape, in which she only managed to travel the length of two streets before being apprehended, Lady Susan states the following to Mrs. Johnson in Letter 19:
Such was the first distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica Susanna Vernon, and if we consider that it was atchieved at the tender age of sixteen we shall have room for the most flattering prognostics of her future renown.
This is clearly sarcasm, or verbal irony, on Lady Susan's part: obviously, an escape of a few moments is no accomplishment, and would certainly never be a "flattering" indicator of future renown. The irony in this passage reveals something of Lady Susan's character. She clearly looks down on her daughter, instead of considering Frederica's needs and worrying that they aren't being properly met—which would, of course, be the natural response of most mothers to their child running away. That Lady Susan would approach such a serious situation with sarcasm belies her claims of being a good mother: she is, clearly, more concerned with herself and the importance of her personal exploits than she is with doing any parenting. In many ways, Lady Susan is still a child herself: she has not moved beyond selfishness enough to nurture a dependent.
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