How to find the irony in the literature? The irony is a mockery, containing a valuation of what is mocked, that is, one of the forms of denial. The distinctive sign of irony is its double sense. The reality can be not directly articulated, but the opposed implied.
Likewise, the more the discrepancy amongst them, the stronger the satire.
In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Harper Lee also uses the effects of irony to criticize the various events of life. This book is full of satire elements and this its key distinction.
The very vivid and impressionable irony in the novel is the moment when the teacher Miss Caroline declares that Scout's father is not a teacher to teach her to read. She doesn’t like that her student by this time was able to read, while the other students are not able to. However, Scout was already able to read and not bad enough. The girl complained to her father, to which he replied that they would continue to read secretly. Atticus said that if the teacher finds out about what they are reading every night, she will start chasing him. He added that he doesn’t want this. It's not that the father was afraid of the teacher. He said that in order to cheer up his frustrated child.
No less striking is the application of the irony in the fact that Scout understands that people who consider the dregs of society are in fact much better than many others. This is confirmed by the instance of Arthur “Boo” Radley. Although outer world believes that he is crazy.
Quite ironic is the fact that children are much wiser and more mature than adults. This is manifested in the fact that they treat African Americans much better than adults. This point is quite ironic.
Also, an element of irony is present when a group of women collected money for poor Africans, instead of thinking about the poor people in their city.
It is also a very attention-grabbing moment when Atticus clarifies that Ewells is from the exclusive society, which in turn is positive. But he presents it in the opposite sense. Scout is indignant why she should go to school, unlike Ewells. To what father replied that she was just an ordinary person, unlike Ewells.
The elements of the irony certainly make Harper Lee's novel admirable. The combination of satire and a magnificent storyline captures the reader and makes this novel unique.
Author: Erica Morris