Student Question
Discuss the irony in W. Somerset Maugham’s "The Appointment in Samarra" and Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Tell-Tale Heart".
Quick answer:
In "The Appointment in Samarra," irony arises from the servant's attempt to escape death by fleeing to Samarra, where he unknowingly fulfills his fate. The irony lies in the fact that his actions to avoid destiny actually lead him directly to it, highlighting the inevitability of fate. In "The Tell-Tale Heart," irony is found in the narrator's insistence on his sanity while describing his irrational obsession and eventual confession to the murder, revealing his madness.
I will answer the question about Maugham's short story. The irony here is primarily situational. The unexpected happens. In trying to avoid his fate, the servant actually fulfills it. He sees Death at the market place, and flees to Samarra. Death explains to the servant's master that he was surprised to see his servant at the market-place this morning when he had an appointment that night with the servant in Samarra. The irony is particularly effective because Death's response surprises the reader with the unexpected, and we know that the servant's fate will be the opposite of what he expects. The irony works to show that there is no escaping fate. When we think we are avoiding it, we actually are working to make it happen. Oedipus Rex is an example of this type of irony.
I'll let another editor respond to the "Tell-Tale Heart."
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.