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The irony is a literary device that creates a contrast between what readers anticipated and what actually happened in the book. Several authors use such a device to display the problems of relationships between people. For example, Sinclair Ross in his short story The Lamp at Noon employs irony to cynically demonstrate flaws in the relationship between two characters and what consequences can those flaws have. The story features a family of three main characters, Ellen, Paul, and their unnamed baby. Their life is extremely difficult as the winds are blowing dust everywhere, which not only prevents crops from growing but causes struggles with breathing as well. In order to illustrate the consequences of the unwillingness to listen to each other, the author successfully uses irony to highlight the contradiction between the characters actions and reality. This thesis can be supported by three arguments: for instance, by the means of irony Ross shows how irrational Pauls attempts to improve his life. Secondly, he demonstrates how Ellens sensible perception of the situation turns into insanity. Finally, through irony, the author demonstrates how a parents care causes the death of the child.
First of all, even though Pauls intentions are coming from his wish to provide for the family, his behavior contradicts them. In the argument with his wife, he states that he could never live off charity, which means financial help from her parents. However, Ellen calls him out on the fact that he borrows money from the government. This particular piece demonstrates the irony behind Pauls action, how his efforts to look after his family only get him more in debt.
As for the second argument, in the beginning, Ellen is presented as the one who is rational and sees the real world. She argues with her husband and begs him because she is worried about their childs health. Nevertheless, her arguments were futile against her husbands pride, although her reasons seem to be more rational. However, she was the one who caused the death of her baby when she ran into a windstorm. Furthermore, she does not even acknowledge that the child is dead. On the contrary, she seems optimistic, which contradicts the harsh reality of the babys demise and the fact that once she realizes what happened, there will be only sorrow.
Besides, the irony is presented in the fact that the child is killed by the same thing that his parents tried to save him from. At dinner, Ellen tries to reason with her husband, saying that their baby is suffocating from the dust. She even tries to keep the baby from it by arranging a tent so that he could be protected. Yet, in the end, the dust in his lungs killed him.
In conclusion, it would appear that the use of irony brilliantly portrayed how the inability to listen to each other can affect the future of the family. The irony in Pauls actions demonstrates how he is incapable of providing for the family despite his efforts. Moreover, Ellens rational perception of the situation later turns into insanity as she loses her child. Finally, the cruel irony is used at the end of the story, when the dust and the wind kill the child, although the parents tried to protect him from it. The tone of the story is overall dark and depressing, and irony seems to perfectly fit into the narration.
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