How Does Kemp Use Irony In The Gargoyle

Honesty is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship. In both stories, Kemp and the narrator of The Gargoyle build strong relationships with another individual that is based upon false pretences. This deceit that lies within their relations with others disrupts the stability they achieve and presents them with opportunities to be resilient. At the start of Panych’s play, Kemp does not have a strong relationship with his aunt Grace. Throughout the play, he speaks almost all of the lines. His aunt silently listens to his complaints about his life. Her listening essentially functions as a talking cure, as Kemp finally has someone to listen to his problems. Panych uses irony in this situation since for the whole duration of the play, Kemp was actually talking to his aunt’s neighbour across the street. …show more content…
Eventually, he becomes engrossed in the stories that Marianne's schizophrenic imagination creates. Although deep down the narrator knows that the tales she tells are lies, he chooses to believe in them as a form of neurotic anxiety which influences him to maintain his relationship with her. He fears that if Marianne leaves his life, his Id will regain control. His Id is personified by Davidson as a snake the lives in his spine, uttering threats to him throughout the novel. Eventually, when the snake subsides, the roles of dependence switch and Marianne comes to rely heavily on the protagonist. Knowing that their relationship was built upon lies, the narrator still recognizes that he has power over his own Id and uses his self-governance to help Marianne. Both the main characters of The Gargoyle and Vigil develop relationships with others that lack veritable foundations, yet manage to be resilient and find value in their time spent with the other. Their investment to these relationships is put to the test when their partners