The Two Instances of Dramatic Irony within Guy de Maupassant’s Book, The Maison Tellier

Last Updated: 15 Mar 2023
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Guy de Maupassant’s “The Maison Tellier” story features two main instances of dramatic irony; two characters are unaware of some facts that readers are nevertheless aware of. For example, whereas readers are aware that Monsieur Tournevau is going out to visit Madame Tellier‘s brothel in a particular night, Monsieur Tournevau’s unnamed wife is not aware of this fact. Further, whereas Madame Tellier is a sinful brothel owner, the ignorant priest at Virville assumes that Madame Tellier's presence at Constance Constance Rivet’s confirmation ceremony is endorsed by God This essay highlights two instances of dramatic irony within “The Maison Tellier“ by analyzing the following aspects: whereas readers are aware that Monsieur Tournevau is going out to visit Madame Tellier's brothel in a particular night.

Monsieur Tournevau‘s unnamed wife is not aware of this fact; and whereas Madame Tellier is a sinful brothel owner, the ignorant priest at Virville assumes that Madame Tellier's presence at Constance’s confirmation ceremony is endorsed by God Given that, whereas readers are aware that Monsieur Tournevau is going out to visit Madame Tellier's brothel in a particular night, Monsieur Tournevau’s unnamed wife is not aware of this fact, dramatic irony is evident. To this end, Monsieur Philippe, who patronizes Madame Tellier's brothel together with Monsieur Tournevau, sends a note informing Monsieur Tournevau that Madame Tellier's brothel has been reopened. Consequently, Monsieur Tournevau needs to visit this brothel, In this note, Monsieur Philippe does not however blatantly refer to Madame Tellier‘s brothel.

Instead, he makes it appear that he is referring to some consignment of cargo that has reached the local portr Given Monsieur Philippe‘s use of coded language, Monsieur Tournevau hands over this note to the wife This way, Monsieur Tournevau’s wife amiably allows the husband to go to Madame Tellier's brothel out of ignorance Based on the mistaken assumption that Monsieur Tournevau is going to attend to some decent business, the wife does not object to the husband‘s decision to venture out at night (Maupassant, n.d.). Given that, while readers are aware of Monsieur Tournevau’s actual destination, the wife is not aware of this destination, dramatic irony is evident. Considering that, whereas Madame Tellier is a sinful brothel owner, the ignorant priest at Virville assumes that Madame Tellier's presence at Constance’s confirmation ceremony is endorsed by God, dramatic irony is further evidence.

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In this regard, Constance resides in Virville with Joseph Rivet, the father. On her part, Madame Tellier resides in Yvetot wherein she runs a brothel. Madame Tellier is invited by Joseph, the brother, to attend Constance’s confirmation ceremony. Given that Virville is a long distance away from Yvetot, no one in Virville apart from Joseph is aware of Madame Tellier’s sinful brothel business. Due to this ignorance, the priest who presides over Constance‘s confirmation ceremony declares that Madame Tellier's presence at this ceremony has obtained divine endorsement (lbid,), in this regard, this priest wrongly alleges that Madame Tellier is a holy person who enjoys God‘s favor.

Nevertheless, readers are aware that, considering that Madame Tellier runs a brothel, she is not a godly individual and cannot thus enjoy God’s endorsement. This situation amounts to dramatic irony. In conclusion, “The Maison Tellier” contains two main cases of dramatic irony. On this note, whereas readers are aware that Monsieur Tournevau is going out to visit Madame Tellier's brothel in a particular night, Monsieur Tournevau’s unnamed wife is not aware of this fact, Moreover, whereas Madame Tellier is a sinful brothel owner, the ignorant priest at Virville assumes that Madame Tellier's presence at Constance’s confirmation ceremony is endorsed by God. It would be insightful to find out why Maupassant makes use of these cases of dramatic irony.

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The Two Instances of Dramatic Irony within Guy de Maupassant’s Book, The Maison Tellier. (2023, Mar 15). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/the-two-instances-of-dramatic-irony-within-guy-de-maupassants-book-the-maison-tellier/

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