Question

Irony refers to the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of their literal meaning. Working in pairs bring out the irony in the following:
(a) The title of the story, “The Best Seller”.
(b) Pescud’s claim, “When people in real life marry, they generally hunt up somebody in their own station. A fellow usually picks out a girl who went to the same high school and belonged to the same singing-society that he did.”
(c) The name Trevelyan.

Answer 1

1. Ram: The title of the story, “The Best Seller” is ironical.
   Sita: That it is. Irony refers to the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite to their literal meaning.
   Ram: John A. Pescud doesn’t like ‘best-sellers’ like “The Rose Lady and Trevelyan.”
   Sita: He thinks that they present a highly unreal, exaggerated and romantic version of life.
   Ram: But he himself is the “Best Seller”.
   Sita: After all, he is a travelling salesman. He knows all the tricks and arts of selling.
   Ram: And he sells such an incredible story.
   Sita: He criticises Trevelyan but imitates his real life.
   Ram: He is another Trevelyan hunting for petunias for his princess Jessie Allyn.
2. Ram: Don’t you feel John A. Pescud is a hypocrite.
   Sita: Without any doubt, he is.
   Ram: Pescud claims “When people in real life marry, they generally hunt up somebody in their own station.”
   Sita: He thinks that “A fellow usually picks out a girl who went to the same high school and belonged to the same singing society that he did.”
   Ram: What John A. Pescud claims, he does just the opposite.
   Sita: This is what irony is. He criticises best¬sellers.’ They present a highly unreal, exaggerated and romantic version of life.
   Ram: But John doesn’t marry a sales girl. He falls in love with the “finest looking girl, a descendant of belted earls. She was the owner of a grand mansion as big as the Capitol at Washington
3. Ram: In the end, the narrator wishes good luck to John, calling him Trevelyan.
   Sita: The address is ironical.
   Ram: Trevelyan falls in love with a royal Princess from Europe. He follows her to her father’s kingdom or principality.
   Sita: And John A. Pescud does exactly the same.
   Ram: John criticises the hero of “The Rose and Trevelyan” but imitates him.
   Sita: He doesn’t run after a sales girl but after the finest girl, a descendant of belted earls.
   Ram: And this modem Trevelyan hunts petunias for her princess Jessie Allyn in Coketown.