Isn't It Ironic

I get into arguments all the time with people over the definition of IRONIC. Most people simply substitute “coincidence” for Irony, except one person. Alanis Morissette uses Irony to describe any phrase coincidental or unfortunate that fits it to a wretched melody in the key of B.

Here is a good way to differentiate Irony from Coincidence.

You bump into someone in the supermarket and strike up a conversation with him or her. You graduated the same high school, but never knew each other. Wow, what a coincidence.

George Washington was the father of our country…BUT he was STERILE! That means he couldn’t father children, but he fathered a nation! That’s IRONIC.

Irony implies a change in the perception of meaning. Coincidence is just the intersection of two events or facts.

Here is another good example of irony; I’ve alluded to in a previous post. New Hampshire’s state motto is “Live Free or Die.” This phrase appears on all of the license plates in the state. People in jail (who do not live free and are not dead) have to stamp “Live Free Or Die” on all the license plates. There’s some more irony for you!

SO, today while at the doctor I found another Gem!

This soap container advertises VIAGRA.

But it dispenses SOFT Soap!




Oh and in case you’re inner dialogue is saying “Oh wait Chuck, what about Dramatic Irony.” Well, in film, TV or theater that’s when one-character talks about something that the audience knows about, but the character doesn’t. Like lets say in Act I scene 1 the woman cheats on her husband…and in scene 2 the husband is at lunch with his buddy talking about what a loyal devoted spouse he has. Yeah pal, that’s what you think ;)

Oh and if your inner dialogue still thinks that Alanis Morisette’s “Ironic” had a single irony in it, you must be Canadian, or worse yet…French.