From earliest childhood, most parents explain concepts such as the impact of decisions, and that money can’t buy happiness; concepts which can help a young person begin to understand life. Still, many underestimate the impact that one seemingly small decision can make in changing the course of a person’s life. John Steinbeck, in his book Cannery Row, shows how such small desires can rob a person of control over his life, forcing him into an endless yet never gratifying cycle. The “trap” Steinbeck refers to is the self-destructive cycle of belief that if one only achieves certain goals such as a good job, having a family or living in a nice house, he will find true happiness and satisfaction. Mack and the boys are the focus of Cannery
(52)”’ This statement is an example of situational irony because when a parent's child is kidnapped it is an instinctive reaction to do whatever you can to get your child back. What Johnny’s father is doing is the complete opposite and that creates the emotion humor for the
Renowned author, Raymond Carver, skillfully weaves dramatic and situational irony throughout his short stories, Cathedral, Neighbors, and They’re Not Your Husband. Situational irony is when the opposite of what is expected to happen occurs. In Cathedral and They 're Not Your Husband, situational irony is amply evident. Dramatic irony is when the audience is cognizant of something of which the characters are unaware. In Neighbors and They’re Not Your Husband, dramatic and situational irony are both utilized.
O.Henry provides a comical effect when using situational irony in his short story, “The Ransom of Red chief”. In contrast, Guy de Maupassant’s use of situational irony in “The Necklace” elicits a sense of pity or grief towards the protagonist. Emotions, as well as actions respond to other forms of sentiment. For instance, the sense of surprise may lead to anger, or perhaps gratitude. Thus, surprise does kindle to other emotion, yet it is also an emotion itself.
Another dominant precedent of John Steinbeck’s use of influential language is the rhetorical question. Throughout the story John Steinbeck is questioning the morals and right doings of the congress. Steinbeck uses the rhetorical question to again question congress, “Surely Congress has the right to ask me anything on any subject. The question is: Should Congress take advantage of that right?” (ll. 14-15).
Steinbeck shows the effects of isolation through different characters' interactions with Crooks. One thing we see in the book is that some people bring loneliness on themselves. The author tells us, "He kept his distance and demanded that other people keep theirs" (Steinbeck, 67.) This passage suggests that Crooks wanted other people on the ranch to stay away from him. Another concept we learn is that loneliness causes sickness in some people.
The purpose of John Steinbeck’s passage is to demonstrate the decay of the inner city as the city expands and grows. Steinbeck illustrates his purpose through the use of various rhetorical devices. Steinbeck’s use of imagery helps him achieve his purpose. Throughout the passage, various descriptions of poverty-filled, dirty, and negative images help him show how the inner city is spiraling towards a much harsher, ill city as time goes on. Steinbeck displays his view of the inner city’s decay as he describes previous commercial properties: “...and small fringe businesses take the place of once flowering establishments.” By using the words “fringe” and “flowering,” the reader is easily able to visualize the negative trend of the inner city.
Steinbeck uses very mean and pessimistic diction to portray the humans as destroying and unhelpful. The author does that, by mentioning the outcome of the humans using the forest, unlike with the animals. The outcomes are generally negative, which leads to a bad representation of humans. For example Steinbeck states that the ground is “beaten hard by boys coming down from the ranches”. The author uses “beaten hard”
Situational Irony is when an event occurs that directly contradicts expectations (Teaching...1). During the story “Desiree’s Baby” Armand and Desiree have a baby, and everything is going great until the baby gets older. The baby starts to give off the appearance of an African and this causes Armand to be furious and unsatisfied for he claims he is a white man and at the time the Africans were considered low. He accuses Desiree unknown past for the cause of this and accuses her of being part African. He destroys his marriage and family and orders Desiree and the baby to leave and never come back.While being so enraged with anger he starts to burn everything that belonged to Desiree from all of her clothes and gowns to all of the letters they wrote to each other.
When John entered high school he was, “An average student in most subjects, and excelled in english. He began to write for the school newspaper, El Gabilan, and began to think seriously of becoming a writer” (Steffens 10). Steinbeck attend college classes on and off for six years, but never earned his college degree (Steffens). He was ready for work when, at twenty-seven, he