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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
Verbal Irony
Explanation and Analysis—Gallants or Lotharios:
The title of “Two Gallants” is an example of verbal irony. This is because “gallant” is another word for “gentleman,” or someone who behaves in an upright manner, especially toward women. As is clear over the course of the story, the two “gallants” at the center of the tale—Corley and Lenehan—actively disparage and manipulate women rather than treat them with respect.
The full irony of the title comes across in moments like the following, when Corley and Lenehan objectify women (like the “slavey,” or maid, Lenehan is seeing):
– You’re what I call a gay Lothario, said Lenehan. And the proper kind of a Lothario, too!
A shade of mockery relieved the servility of his manner. To save himself he had the habit of leaving his flattery open to the interpretation of raillery. But Corley had not a subtle mind.
– There’s nothing to touch a good slavey, he affirmed. Take my tip for it.
– By one who has tried them all, said Lenehan.
In calling Corley a “gay Lothario,” Lenehan means that his friend is a carefree playboy (not a queer one). He says this after hearing about how Corley has successfully convinced the women he sleeps with to give him gifts and pay for his meals—not very gallant behavior. Corley’s crass assertion that “There’s nothing to touch a good slavey” and Lenehan’s response that this is coming from a man “who has tried them all” shows how comfortable they both are with objectifying and sexualizing women.
There is a second layer of verbal irony here, as Lenehan says with some “mockery” that Corley is “the proper kind of a Lothario.” Whether Lenehan is sarcastically commenting on how there is no such thing as a “proper” Lothario or mocking how, if there were proper Lotharios, the manipulative Corley would not be amongst them, isn’t clear. Yet this language shows that, on some level, Lenehan is aware of the fact that Corley is not treating the maid he is seeing with full respect.
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