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Unreliable Narrator
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 5
Explanation and Analysis—I'm Dead, Sir!:
When Orlando encounters Shel for the first time in Chapter 5 of Orlando, she lies frozen on the ground, experiencing some sort of delirium. Moments later, when Shel approaches her to inquire about her condition, she replies with verbal irony:
“Madam,” the man cried, leaping to the ground, “you’re hurt!” “I’m dead, Sir!” she replied. A few minutes later, they became engaged.
Orlando's exclamation that she is "dead, Sir!" is an instance of verbal irony, given that dead people cannot speak. For Orlando to have literally been dead and still capable of relaying her condition is impossible. However, her unserious exclamation is humorous and displays the playful attitude prevalent throughout Orlando. Much of Orlando's life appears fantastical—such as her multi-century lifespan or the fact that she and Shel become engaged in minutes—and Woolf often reflects this air of fantasy through direct dialogue. Orlando repeatedly encounters various forms of death throughout the novel, yet never truly succumbs to death. Perhaps symbolic of Orlando's shedding of clothes, identities, and time periods during her life, Orlando's small deaths are ironic. However, they are nonetheless important to her trajectory as a character. As someone able to live through multiple eras, Orlando must adapt to fit certain conditions or expectations—a rebirth of sorts that requires a corresponding death.
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