Dramatic Irony In The Book Of Job
The Book of Job is a scripture filled with irony, which floods nearly every chapter in the text. The book introduces Job, a purely good human being who is often regarded by God as a “blameless and upright man” (Job 1.8). As the book unfolds, God and Satan make a bet to determine whether Job will remain loyal to God when catastrophes unfold. Irony manifests itself as dramatic and situational irony throughout the entire text.
Dramatic irony plays a fundamental role throughout the Book of Job. Dramatic irony is the irony that occurs when a situation’s implications are understood by the audience but not by the characters. In the first chapter, Satan tells God, “Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all he has on every side. You
have blessed the work of his land, and his possessions have increased on the land” (Job 1.10). In the third chapter, Job, despite not knowing about this fence, exclaims, “Why is light given to one who cannot see the way, whom God has fenced in.” (Job 3.18) The dramatic irony in this statement is evident as Job claims that God has fenced him in, not knowing that this in fact, the truth. Dramatic irony becomes increasingly evident as the book progresses. Job complains that he hasn’t done anything wrong and curses the day of his birth. Eliphaz responds to Job’s complaining, “Were the uprights every destroyed?” (Job 4:7). This quote is dramatically ironic in itself since Job, an upright human being, is present right before Eliphaz. The reader and the heavenly beings share the knowledge that Job is innocent and merely being tested for God’s own purposes.
The Book of Job also displays situational irony throughout the scripture. Situation irony happens when what is expected does not occur. Recalling back to the fence in the first chapter when Satan tells God, ““Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all he has on every side. You have blessed the work of his land, and his possessions have increased on the land” (Job 1.10). Satan implies that Job is only being loyal to God because God has fenced him in from danger and blessed him with material surpluses. However, Job misinterprets this “fence” and questions, “Am I the Sea, or the Dragon, that you have set a guard over me?” (Job 7.12) Job’s question pours irony as he questions the Lord whether he is so dangerous and evil that he must be fenced in. However, the reality of the book demonstrates the opposite as God has fenced Job to protect him since he is the most pure human to God.
Dramatic and situational irony are evident throughout the entire text. Dramatic irony presents itself through the scripture as the characters, unknown to them, make ironic statements that contradict with the information that the reader has acquired. Situational irony becomes evident when the main character Job makes interpretations which are in fact, opposite of the reality. It is apparent that different types of irony are used as a foundational literary device for the Book of Job.
Dramatic irony plays a fundamental role throughout the Book of Job. Dramatic irony is the irony that occurs when a situation’s implications are understood by the audience but not by the characters. In the first chapter, Satan tells God, “Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all he has on every side. You
have blessed the work of his land, and his possessions have increased on the land” (Job 1.10). In the third chapter, Job, despite not knowing about this fence, exclaims, “Why is light given to one who cannot see the way, whom God has fenced in.” (Job 3.18) The dramatic irony in this statement is evident as Job claims that God has fenced him in, not knowing that this in fact, the truth. Dramatic irony becomes increasingly evident as the book progresses. Job complains that he hasn’t done anything wrong and curses the day of his birth. Eliphaz responds to Job’s complaining, “Were the uprights every destroyed?” (Job 4:7). This quote is dramatically ironic in itself since Job, an upright human being, is present right before Eliphaz. The reader and the heavenly beings share the knowledge that Job is innocent and merely being tested for God’s own purposes.
The Book of Job also displays situational irony throughout the scripture. Situation irony happens when what is expected does not occur. Recalling back to the fence in the first chapter when Satan tells God, ““Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all he has on every side. You have blessed the work of his land, and his possessions have increased on the land” (Job 1.10). Satan implies that Job is only being loyal to God because God has fenced him in from danger and blessed him with material surpluses. However, Job misinterprets this “fence” and questions, “Am I the Sea, or the Dragon, that you have set a guard over me?” (Job 7.12) Job’s question pours irony as he questions the Lord whether he is so dangerous and evil that he must be fenced in. However, the reality of the book demonstrates the opposite as God has fenced Job to protect him since he is the most pure human to God.
Dramatic and situational irony are evident throughout the entire text. Dramatic irony presents itself through the scripture as the characters, unknown to them, make ironic statements that contradict with the information that the reader has acquired. Situational irony becomes evident when the main character Job makes interpretations which are in fact, opposite of the reality. It is apparent that different types of irony are used as a foundational literary device for the Book of Job.