The Use of Irony and Humor of “The Drunkard”
The Use of Irony and Humor of “The Drunkard”
In the story, “The Drunkard” the author Frank O’Connor uses a point of view to primarily reveal humor and irony. In the story, O’Connor uses first person point of view. First person point of view is told through the eyes of the main character in this story. The main character is named Larry. Larry is a young boy who has to go along with his father one day to a funeral. Larry’s father Mick is the person referred to as the “drunkard”. Larry seems to know what will happen when he goes with his father but is hopping that his father might consider his presence and not drink. Since the story is told through little Larry’s eyes and thoughts the reader mainly focuses on how Larry feels about his dad being a drinker. The Irony and humor that is found in human nature is revealed through Larry, first person point of view, and what happens on his outing with his father Mick. Irony, the incongruities between the expected and actual results of events and humor, the quality of being laughably ludicrous are interweaved in this story. In the short story, “The Drunkard” Frank O’Connor uses first person point of view to reveal the humor and irony that is created in this amusing story.
Humor is seen many times in the story after Larry and his father Mick reach the bar following the funeral. Larry is thirsty and takes a drink of his father’s beer. Larry finishes his father’s drink and becomes drunk afterwards. While this is occurring his father is talking away with a man named Peter Crowley who is also a drinker. When Mick realizes Larry is drunk he knows he must take him home immediately. This scene is described as, “They all stopped gabbling to gape at the strange spectacle of two sober men, middle aged men bringing home a drunken small boy with a cut over his eye” (301). This could not be better told than through the eyes of Larry who at the time is observing all he sees happening around him. Two usually drunk men carrying home but a young boy who is not sober enough to walk. This humorous scene described by the main character reveals...