Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony occurs when the reader knows important information that a character isn't aware of yet, which causes that character to say or do things that are the opposite of what he or she should say or do. Willy ends up committing suicide after deciding that he is not living up to his dreams, but after his funeral, we find out that he has successfully paid off the mortgage on the house. His wife, Linda, talks to him out loud saying, ''I made the last payment on the house today. Today, dear. And there'll be nobody home.'' For many people, having a house paid for would be an indicator of success. Willy never sees the fruits of his labor because he kills himself before he has a chance to reap the benefits.
Verbal Irony
Willy Loman's public self is so different from his actual self that often what he says creates verbal irony. Verbal irony occurs when what the character says is in sharp contrast to the reality of the situation. Willy Loman views himself as a success, but the audience knows that his perspective is skewed. Loman offers his son advice, ''the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want.'' He further claims that his clients never make him wait because they like him and are excited to see him when just the opposite is true.
This juxtaposition between what is and what Willy says reveals a character unable to face the reality of his life. Verbal irony is used as a tool to describe Willy's character by comparing the way the world views him to the way he tries to present himself to his sons.
Situational Irony
Situational irony is when events turn out the opposite of the way the reader or the character would expect them to. Willy ends up committing suicide after deciding that he is not living up to his dreams. He believed the insurance money would help his son, Biff, begin a successful career; however, the insurance money never materialized because the death was a suicide.
Willy also believed his funeral would prove his success and how well liked he really was. In truth, only his sons, wife, and two others attended his funeral. What Willy believed would happen after his suicide was the opposite of what actually occurred.
Lesson Summary
In Death of a Salesman, the tragic character, Willy Loman, is characterized by the use of irony. Dramatic irony is when the audience is privy to information that the character is not yet aware of, which causes that character to say or do things that are the opposite of what he or she should say or do. Willy committed suicide because he felt he had failed. Yet his wife, Linda, made the final house payment on the day of his funeral.
Verbal irony occurs when what the character says is in sharp contrast to the reality of the situation. When he gives his sons advice on how to be successful, the verbal irony is not lost on the audience. Situational irony is when things turn out the opposite of what is expected. Willy believed his suicide would provide money for his son, Biff, and prove his success and popularity. The reality of the situation couldn't have been further from Willy's beliefs.
