Stylistic Device-Irony

Style in An Enemy of the People --Use of irony
    A simplistic definition of irony is that it is an aspect of a situation that is odd or amusing because it is the opposite of what one would expect. This is precisely what it is, concerning situational irony. Dramatic irony in addition occasion stage when one of the actors is oblivious of what the audience already knows.

Ibsen, in our text An Enemy of the People intricately employs both situational and dramatic irony firmly holding the audience to the end of his play. Amusing as it may be – even when an important matter is at stake, dramatic irony is depicted in Act III. It follows in a time when Dr. Stockmann’s popularity is quickly changing, and he has lost the support of Houstad, Biling and even Aslaksen. The audience at that time is in conspiracy with Hovstad, Billing and ASlaken and are thrilled by Dr. Stockmann’s erroneous thoughts in in pg. 61, especially when he says:-
“Well, whatever it is – whatever it is a demonstration in my honour, or a banquet, or 6 subscription list for some presentations to me. At that time, Dr. Stockmann thinks that these people are still with him. The audience however already knows that they have changed their position.

    Situational irony on the other hand covers the whole play. The first part dwells on Dr. Stockmann’s popularity and the support he gets. At the climax of the play however, a paradigm shift occurs and unexpected as it is, Dr. Stockmann is declared to be An Enemy of the People.
Again, when everything crumbles down so fast on Dr. Stockmann, he gives the most spectacular statements, that he is the strongest man in the world saying “the strongest man in the world is he who stands alone”.
This statement comes to show the irony of the situation when Dr. Stockmann says he’s the strongest man. It is the least of the audience’s expectation that at that time, anyone would consider themselves great.