Irony at Its Finest

Irony is an aspect of writing that defiantly is prevalent, but it isn’t a necessity for a piece to be considered excellent. I think that is because irony is so hard to master, but when used correctly, it not only can make you giggle, but it can also cause to ponder serious topics. David Foster Wallace crafts irony into his piece “Consider the Lobster” unlike any other piece I have encountered. Everywhere you turn, there is another ironic statement or even a foot note? That fact that Wallace’s footnotes are ridiculously elongated is irony alone. He took the most overlooked part of an essay (we all have to admit that we don’t look at them) and made it the most noticeable feature of his essay. Can we get some snaps for Wallace? His points in his footnotes are unique and important, so he placed them in a spot that is beyond conventional and almost impossible to disregard. Another major form of irony is the intended audience for his piece. His piece criticizes the mindless boiling of lobsters, and his audience is “Gourmet readers” (679 Wallace). People who value classy meals such as lobster! In any other magazine this article wouldn’t fulfill a major part of its purpose: to reveal the unjust irony meat enthusiasts unknowingly live with or choose to ignore. They revel in the savory taste of meat that has been brought to them by the torture of another living creature. He wanted people to consider their actions instead of acting without any regard for their consequences. Wallace’s uses irony masterfully throughout his piece to reveal the serious but ironic truth behind every dead animal for dinner.