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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
Chapter 30
Explanation and Analysis—Action & Inaction:
After Anna’s death, Pino feels an immense amount of guilt for failing to intervene and save his beloved, regardless of whether or not his intervention would have actually saved Anna's life. After nearly losing his mind following the shooting, Pino takes his guilt to church, where he makes an ironic confession to the priest:
The screen slid back, but all Pino could see in there was blackness. He did the only thing he could think of and knelt. “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned,” Pino choked. “Yes?” “I did nothing,” Pino sobbed in lament. “I did nothing.” “What are you talking about?” the priest said.
In the passage above, Pino feels distraught over the fact that he remained a mere bystander to Anna's death rather than confronting the partisan firing squad directly. Typically, to confess a sin implies that one performed an action. However, in this case, Pino did nothing to stop the firing squad: an inaction which he believes is his ultimate sin. This exchange between Pino and the priest is ironic because “I did nothing” sounds like the opposite of a confession, when in fact it is Pino’s entire confession. Pino did nothing to stop Anna’s murder—an instance of inaction with severe consequences. Thus, Pino’s inaction is an action in itself, as the author expresses through verbal irony.
Related Themes:
