"Irony is the joy of reflection and the joy of wisdom." With this statement, Anatole France, Nobel Prize winner in 1921, states that he believes that irony is just a lighthearted reflection. However, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses irony to reveal the distinctly dark themes of The Scarlet Letter. Within the novel, Hester Prynne, a young and vivacious woman, gives in to the temptation of adultery in her small Puritan town of Boston. As punishment for her transgression, Hester is forced to wear a scarlet "A" to symbolize her sin. Although Hester's misdeeds are publicly acknowledged, the similar misdeeds of her partner, Arthur Dimmesdale, the town's young minister, are unknown. When her husband, Roger Chillingworth, reappears and discovers Hester's actions, he vows to take revenge on Hester's lover. As Pearl, the result of Hester's adultery, grows up from childhood, the lives of Hester, Chillingworth, Dimmesdale, and Pearl become inevitably intertwined. The effective use of situational, verbal, and dramatic irony allows Hawthorne to convey complex themes of sin and repentance in The Scarlet Letter. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay When addressing the novel's prevalent themes, Hawthorne often uses situational irony to emphasize his concepts and meaning. Situational irony, the difference between what the reader expects to happen and what actually happens is highlighted throughout the novel. Dimmesdale's dual role as adulterer and minister creates the most dramatic example of situational irony. the light of heaven radiated from it…and then look within, and discern the black reality of that which they idolise? I laughed, in the bitterness and agony of my heart, at the contrast between what I seem and what I am! laugh about it!" (175)Dimmesdale is guilty of a grave sin even though he is highly renowned as a minister within his community. It is unexpected that an outwardly pure and innocent church official like Dimmesdale would commit adultery. Furthermore, his actions have surprising consequences. The people did not know the power that drove them so. They considered the young priest a miracle of holiness. They imagined him as the spokesperson of the messages of wisdom, rebuke and love of Heaven was sanctified.(131)Instead of diminishing his effectiveness as a preacher of God's word, Dimmesdale's unconfessed sin allows him to better reach his congregation. The high esteem held for Dimmesdale by those under his spiritual guidance serves to demonstrate the hypocrisy within Puritan communities. This use of irony is reflected in the transformation of the meaning of Hester's scarlet letter. Such willingness was found in her... that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A with its original meaning. They said it meant Skilled; so strong was Hester Prynne, with the strength of a woman. (148) Hester's scarlet "A" comes to represent her good heart and skill at needlework, rather than a symbol to be avoided. The original meaning of the letter is drastically altered in the minds of the community, an ironic and unexpected event by the reader. Hawthorne uses situational irony when addressing the main ideas of the novel. Unlike situational irony, Hawthorne uses verbal irony to portray the motivations and desires of various characters. Verbal irony, when a character's message is interpreted one way but means something else, is found in the main characters' dialogue. “If you feel it is for the peace of your soul… youtask of pronouncing aloud the name of your companion in sin and suffering! Be not silent out of false pity and tenderness for him, for, believe me, Hester, if he should resign;from a high place...but it would be better so, than to hide a guilty heart all his life." (63) Though Dimmesdale stands begging Hester to reveal that he is her partner in sin, his actions clearly show otherwise. The intense verbal The irony of this scene can only be understood in retrospect, once the reader is aware of Dimmesdale's bond with Hester. At the same time So, the irony of Chillingworth's response to Hester in prison can only be fully realized once the plot develops?" asked Hester, troubled by the expression in his eyes. "Are you like the boogeyman that haunts the forest around us? Have you enticed me into a bond that will prove the ruin of my soul?" “Not your soul,” he replied, with another smile. “No, not yours!”(71-72) Chillingworth's ambiguous statement implies that it will cause Dimmesdale's downfall. Although he achieves his stated mission, Chillingworth's quest for revenge ironically leads to his own downfall. Hawthorne continues to use verbal irony when Hester is discussing her scarlet letter with Pearl. “As for the scarlet letter, I wear it for the sake of its golden thread” (166). Up until this point, Hester has never lied about the meaning of the scarlet letter she wears. Because Hester says one thing but clearly means another, her dialogue represents an example of verbal irony within Hawthorne's piece While Hawthorne uses verbal irony in the characters' dialogue, he uses dramatic irony to create and prevent the suffering of the characters. Dramatic irony is when the reader knows something fundamental that one or more characters are unaware of certain details, their decisions often lead to unintended consequences. The elders, the deacons, the maternal ladies, and the beautiful young maidens of Mr. Dimmesdale's flock, were equally importunate that he should try the skill frankly offered by the doctor. (111-112)If the people of Boston had known Chillingworth's true motive, revenge, it is certain that they would not have sanctioned a close relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Their ignorance led to the eventual decline of their beloved Dimmesdale, a powerful example of dramatic irony. Even the Puritans of Boston are unaware of Dimmesdale's relationship with Hester. For this reason, he actually argues in its favor without appearing biased. "There is truth in what she says... God gave her the child, and also gave her an instinctive knowledge of its nature and needs, so peculiar, that no other mortal can possess." (104-105) Unbeknownst to the other characters, Dimmesdale sincerely wishes that Hester be allowed to keep Pearl. His position of apparent neutrality ensures that his opinion will be held in high regard on an issue where it should be ignored as biased. Although Dimmesdale benefits from an example of dramatic irony, he is gravely wounded when he proceeds through life unaware that an enemy is continually with him. “You have long had such an enemy and live with him, under the same roof!” The minister jumped up, panting and clutching his heart, as if he wanted to tear it out of his chest. (176) Dimmesdale's ignorance of Chillingworth's evil intentions allows Chillingworth to infiltrate Dimmesdale's life and wreak havoc on his health and happiness. A supreme example of dramatic irony and its effect on unknowing characters is Dimmesdale's lack of insight into Chillingworth's purpose. This blindness directly causes Dimmesdale's downfall and eventual death..