Irony has been used in stories throughout time to help emphasize a point to the reader. Irony is defined as “the expression of one 's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect” and “a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result.” (Merriam Webster Dictionary). Philip Roth used irony in his story Defender of the Faith through character actions. In the beginning of the story it seems that the defender of the faith is Grossbart, a trainee preparing for the western front after the United States won the eastern during WWII. He tries to use the fact that he is a Jew to get sympathy from others to make his training
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Grossbart continues to use his religion as an excuse to get what he wants and each time the lies and requests become bigger and more selfish. Multiple times in the story, Grossbart tries to coerce Marx into telling him if they are to be sent to the western front. At first he says that it is due to his parents worrying and he wants to calm them. Then at the end of the story he says that Mickey “ was crying so, it could have broken your heart.” (1453) When given the news that they were going to the front, he left and somehow ended up on the list to stay back east. When Marx switches him to the western front ironically using his passion for the injustice of the treatment of the Jews to get the posts to switch. He confesses that he did something for himself, leaving is friends behind. This is ironic due to the fact that earlier, Grossbart had said in his fake letter to the congressman that “so many millions of my fellow Jews gave up their lives to the enemy, the least I can do is live for a while minus a bit of my heritage so as to help end this struggle and regain for all the children of God dignity and humanity.” (1447). At the end, he goes and stations himself where he cannot ‘help end this struggle’. By stationing Grossbart with the rest of the camp, Marx saved the other Jews from prosecution from the others due to Grossbart getting special treatment by using his
Grossbart continues to use his religion as an excuse to get what he wants and each time the lies and requests become bigger and more selfish. Multiple times in the story, Grossbart tries to coerce Marx into telling him if they are to be sent to the western front. At first he says that it is due to his parents worrying and he wants to calm them. Then at the end of the story he says that Mickey “ was crying so, it could have broken your heart.” (1453) When given the news that they were going to the front, he left and somehow ended up on the list to stay back east. When Marx switches him to the western front ironically using his passion for the injustice of the treatment of the Jews to get the posts to switch. He confesses that he did something for himself, leaving is friends behind. This is ironic due to the fact that earlier, Grossbart had said in his fake letter to the congressman that “so many millions of my fellow Jews gave up their lives to the enemy, the least I can do is live for a while minus a bit of my heritage so as to help end this struggle and regain for all the children of God dignity and humanity.” (1447). At the end, he goes and stations himself where he cannot ‘help end this struggle’. By stationing Grossbart with the rest of the camp, Marx saved the other Jews from prosecution from the others due to Grossbart getting special treatment by using his