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Imagery
Definition of Irony
Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how they actually are. If this seems like a loose definition... read full definition
Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how they actually are. If this... read full definition
Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how... read full definition
Chapter 3
Explanation and Analysis—Félicité’s Name:
In a subtle example of situational irony, Flaubert names his protagonist “Félicité,” which translates into English as "bliss" or “great happiness.” This is an example of irony because Félicité’s life is not defined by happiness but by immense suffering and grief. Félicité lives tragedy after tragedy, as her loved ones either abandon her or die, experiencing anguish in the process. The challenging nature of Félicité’s life comes across in moments like the following, when she reckons with her nephew Victor’s death:
Félicité sank down on to a chair and leant her head against the wall. Her eyelids closed and suddenly flushed pink. She remained there, her head bowed, her hands hanging limply at her side, staring in front of her and repeating over and over again, “The poor boy! The poor boy!”
The details that Flaubert provides here—such as Félicité leaning her head against the wall and holding her arms “limply at her side”—captures the depth of Félicité’s despair. She again expresses her deep grief when Virginie, Loulou, and Madame Aubain all pass away as well.
It is possible that, in addition to being an example of subtle irony, Flaubert’s decision to name his protagonist Félicité is also a nod to the fact that, even in challenging circumstances, Félicité is able to stay open-hearted and loving. While she may not be “happy” throughout the story, she is able to grieve and then move on, ultimately ending her life with a sense of deep peace, knowing that she acted as morally and compassionately as she could while living such a traumatic and painful life.
Related Themes:
