Abstract

Jane Austen is a female writer of great influence in 19th century. She is praised by the world for her unique writing style. Emma is a successful and mature novel among many of her works, which is completed in a period of great success in her writing. In this novel, she shapes Emma as an objective of irony based on marital status of women at that time. Irony has great effect on character building and plot development. According to M H Abrams’ definition of irony, there remains the root sense of dissembling or hiding what is actually the case. By shaping a naive and arrogant heroine and making Emma becomes the victim of a series of irony, the author reveals to the readers a story that a woman becomes mature and finally gets happiness. This paper will focus specific use of irony and its effect. It includes two aspects: structural irony and dramatic irony. 

Keywords: Jane Austen; Emma; irony; character

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

2. Irony in Austen’s works-3

2.1 Definition and Classification of irony-3

2.2 Characteristics of irony in Austen’s works.-3

3. Structural Irony in Emma: Character building of Emma-5

3.1 Emma’s Control toward Harriet Smith.-5

3.2 Misjudgment of Mr. Elton's intentions-6

4. Dramatic Irony in Emma: the Victim of Irony-7

4.1 An object deceived by Frank-7

4.2 Ironic marriages among three couples-8

5. Conclusion-9

References-10