Irony in I, Robot
I, Robot is a novel by Isaac Asimov. I, Robot is about robots and “The Three Laws of Robotics”. The book is a collection of nine stories about the development of robots from past, to present, to future. In I, Robot, Isaac Asimov uses Socratic, Sophoclean, and Situational irony throughout the novel.
First, Asimov uses Socratic irony. Socratic irony is used in chapter five, “Liar”. “Well I’ll get started. I’ve got the darnedest job of any of us, so I’m getting out of here and to work” (114-115). This is an example of Socratic irony, because it is meant to be ironic when Milton Ashe says he has the “darnedest job” when in fact he doesn’t have the darnedest job of them all. When Dr. Calvin asked Herbie if he told anyone, his response was, “Of course not! No one has asked me” (116). This is verbal irony when Herbie says “Of course not!” so confidently as if he would never tell, but goes on to say “No one has asked me”, therefore he would’ve told if someone would’ve asked him. “He looks deeper than the skin, and admires intellect in others. Milton Ashe is not the type to marry a head of hair and a pair of eyes” (118). This is an example of Socratic irony, because Milton Ashe was in fact “the type to …show more content…
Situational irony is used in chapter one, “Robbie”. “Gloria, if you don’t stop this at once, you shan’t see Robbie for a whole week” (7). This is an example of situational irony even though Gloria did stop at once, her mom wanted to get rid of Robbie. “All right, but they can’t stop us from keeping a robot in our home. – Grace, this is one of your campaigns. I recognize it. But it’s no use. The answer is still, no! We’re keeping Robbie!” (11). Grace wanted to get rid of Robbie, but George told her they were going to keep him, but Grace ended up getting her way. “Well, I guess he can stay with us until he rusts” (28). Robbie saved Gloria which made Grace change her mind, so they got to keep
I, Robot is a novel by Isaac Asimov. I, Robot is about robots and “The Three Laws of Robotics”. The book is a collection of nine stories about the development of robots from past, to present, to future. In I, Robot, Isaac Asimov uses Socratic, Sophoclean, and Situational irony throughout the novel.
First, Asimov uses Socratic irony. Socratic irony is used in chapter five, “Liar”. “Well I’ll get started. I’ve got the darnedest job of any of us, so I’m getting out of here and to work” (114-115). This is an example of Socratic irony, because it is meant to be ironic when Milton Ashe says he has the “darnedest job” when in fact he doesn’t have the darnedest job of them all. When Dr. Calvin asked Herbie if he told anyone, his response was, “Of course not! No one has asked me” (116). This is verbal irony when Herbie says “Of course not!” so confidently as if he would never tell, but goes on to say “No one has asked me”, therefore he would’ve told if someone would’ve asked him. “He looks deeper than the skin, and admires intellect in others. Milton Ashe is not the type to marry a head of hair and a pair of eyes” (118). This is an example of Socratic irony, because Milton Ashe was in fact “the type to …show more content…
Situational irony is used in chapter one, “Robbie”. “Gloria, if you don’t stop this at once, you shan’t see Robbie for a whole week” (7). This is an example of situational irony even though Gloria did stop at once, her mom wanted to get rid of Robbie. “All right, but they can’t stop us from keeping a robot in our home. – Grace, this is one of your campaigns. I recognize it. But it’s no use. The answer is still, no! We’re keeping Robbie!” (11). Grace wanted to get rid of Robbie, but George told her they were going to keep him, but Grace ended up getting her way. “Well, I guess he can stay with us until he rusts” (28). Robbie saved Gloria which made Grace change her mind, so they got to keep