What is Romantic Irony?
A literary technique in which the author uses irony to convey a contrast between the protagonist's romantic ideals and the reality of their situations.
Getting Romantic with Irony: Understanding the Literary Technique of Romantic Irony
Have you ever read a story and found yourself feeling a sense of irony around the protagonist's romantic ideals? That's because the author may be using a technique called 'romantic irony'.
Unlike situational or dramatic irony, romantic irony specifically involves a contrast between the protagonist's romantic ideals and the reality of their situations. This often results in a feeling of disillusionment for the protagonist, as well as the reader. In this sense, romantic irony is a great tool for authors looking to create complex and multi-dimensional characters.
One famous example of romantic irony is in The Great Gatsby, where the protagonist Jay Gatsby is deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan, but their relationship is ultimately doomed due to their differences in social status. Despite Gatsby's romantic ideals, he is unable to achieve his dream of winning Daisy's heart.
Understanding the use of romantic irony can help you become a more nuanced and skilled writer, allowing you to create more complex and interesting characters that resonate with readers.
Here are two examples of how romantic irony is used in famous works of literature.
The romantic irony here is seen through the relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff, who are deeply in love but unable to be together due to their societal positions. Their love is doomed from the start, and is ultimately characterized by tragic disillusionment.
In this famous play, the romantic irony is found in the fact that Romeo and Juliet are deeply in love, but are members of two feuding families who will not accept their union. This results in their tragic end, despite their deep love for one another.