“Irony is the cheerfulness of reflection and the joy of wisdom.” Through this declaration, Anatole France, Nobel Prize winner in 1921, affirms his conviction that irony is only a light reflection. However, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses irony to reveal the distinctly morose themes of The Scarlet Letter. In the novel, Hester Prynne, a dynamic young woman, succumbs to the temptation of adultery in her small Puritan town of Boston. As punishment for her transgression, Hester is forced to wear a scarlet "A" to symbolize her sin. Although Hester's misdeeds are publicly acknowledged, the similar misdeeds of her partner, Arthur Dimmesdale, the town's young minister, are unknown. When her husband, Roger Chillingworth, reappears and discovers Hester's actions, he swears revenge on Hester's lover. As Pearl, the result of Hester's adultery, grows from childhood, the lives of Hester, Chillingworth, Dimmesdale, and Pearl inevitably become intertwined. Effective use of situational, verbal, and dramatic irony allows Hawthorne to convey complex themes of sin and repentance in The Scarlet Letter. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay When discussing the novel's dominant themes, Hawthorne often uses situational irony to emphasize its concepts and meaning. Ironically, the difference between what the reader expects to happen and what actually happens is highlighted throughout the novel. Dimmesdale's dual roles, adulterer and minister, create the most dramatic example of situational irony. "Will you consider it any consolation, Hester, that I should stand up in my pulpit and find so many eyes turned to my face, as if the light of heaven were radiating from it...and then look within and discern the dark reality of what they idolize? I laughed, in the bitterness and agony of the heart, at the contrast between what I seem and what I am and Satan we laugh at it! (175) Dimmesdale is guilty of a grave sin even though he is highly regarded as a minister within his community. It is unexpected that a church official as seemingly pure and innocent as Dimmesdale would commit adultery. Plus, his actions have surprising consequences. The people did not know the power that pushed them like this. They considered the young clergyman a miracle of holiness. They considered him the spokesperson for messages of wisdom, reproof and love from Heaven. In their eyes, the very ground he walked on was hallowed. (131) Instead of diminishing his effectiveness as a preacher of God's word, Dimmesdale's unconfessed sin allows him to better reach his congregation. The high regard given to Dimmesdale by those under his spiritual leadership serves to demonstrate the hypocrisy within Puritan communities. This use of irony is reflected in the transformation of the meaning of Hester's Scarlet Letter. Such helpfulness was found in her...that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original meaning. They said it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with the strength of a woman. (148) Hester's scarlet "A" represents her kind heart and skill in sewing, rather than a symbol to be avoided. The original meaning of the letter is radically altered in the minds of the community, an ironic and unexpected event for the reader. Hawthorne uses situational irony when discussing the main ideas of the novel. Unlike situational irony, Hawthorne uses verbal irony to represent motivations and desiresof various characters. Verbal irony, when a character's message is interpreted one way but means something else, is found in the dialogue of the main characters. "If you think it is for the peace of your soul... I charge you to pronounce the name of your fellow sinner and fellow sufferer! Do not be silent about all mistaken pity and tenderness for him because, believe me , Hester, thou hadst to retire;from a high place...but it is better that it be so, than to hide a guilty heart all through life” (63) Although Dimmesdale begs Hester to reveal. that he is her partner in sin, his actions clearly show otherwise. The intense verbal irony of this scene can only be understood in retrospect, once the reader is aware of the connection between Dimmesdale and Hester. Likewise, the irony of Chillingworth's response to Hester in prison cannot be fully understood until the plot is developed. Me ? » asked Hester, troubled by the expression in his eyes. “Are you like the black man who haunts the forest around us? Have you drawn me into a bond that will prove the ruin of my soul? " "Not your soul," he replied with another smile. "No, not yours! " (71-72) Chillingworth's ambiguous statement implies that he will cause Dimmesdale's downfall. Although he accomplishes his stated mission, Chillingworth's quest for revenge ironically leads to his own downfall. Hawthorne continues to use the verbal irony when Hester discusses her scarlet letter with Pearl “As for the scarlet letter, I wear it for good. of her golden thread" (166). Until now, Hester has never lied about the meaning of the scarlet letter she wears. Because Hester says one thing but clearly means another, her dialogue is an example of verbal irony in Hawthorne's play While Hawthorne uses verbal irony in the characters' dialogue, he uses dramatic irony to create and prevent the characters' suffering. Dramatic irony occurs when the reader. knows something critical that one or more characters do not know about certain details, their decisions often lead to unexpected consequences The elders, the deacons, the maternal ladies and the young and beautiful maidens of Mr. Dimmesdale's flock were also. unwelcome that he should try the skill frankly offered by the doctor (111-112) If the inhabitants of Boston had known Chillingworth's true motive, revenge, it is certain that they would not have sanctioned. a close relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Their ignorance ultimately led to the decline of their beloved Dimmesdale, a powerful example of dramatic irony. The Boston Puritans also ignore Dimmesdale's relationship with Hester. For this reason, he effectively argues in his favor without appearing partisan. "There is truth in what she says... God gave her the child and gave her, also, an instinctive knowledge of its nature and its requirements, both apparently so particular, that no other mortal cannot possess (104-105) Unbeknownst to the other characters, Dimmesdale sincerely wishes that Hester be allowed to keep Pearl. Her position of apparent neutrality ensures that her opinion will be highly valued on a matter where she should be. considered biased. Although Dimmesdale benefits from a case of dramatic irony, he is seriously injured when he moves forward in life without knowing that an enemy is continually with him “You have long had such an enemy and live. with him, under the same roof!" The minister rose, panting and clutching his heart, as if he wanted to tear it from his bosom. (176) Dimmesdale's ignorance of Chillingworth's evil intentions allows Chillingworth to infiltrate Dimmesdale's life and wreak havoc on his health and happiness. An example.