What role does irony play in literature?

Irony serves a significant purpose in literature by emphasizing contradictions within the narrative or between characters' perceptions and reality. This technique allows writers to convey deeper meanings, highlight flaws or absurdities in situations, and provoke critical thinking among readers. By showcasing contradictions, irony can enhance the thematic complexity of a work, encouraging readers to reflect on the disparity between appearance and reality.

In various literary forms, irony can illuminate the characters' misunderstandings or the themes the author seeks to explore, leading to a richer engagement with the text. For instance, situational irony can expose the unpredictability of fate while dramatic irony can create a sense of poignancy as the audience understands something that the characters do not. This ability to reveal unseen truths and provoke thought is why irony is a crucial element in literary works.