The title, "The Guest," is ironic.
The Arab is a prisoner, however Daru refuses to treat him as one, opening his home and
caring for him as if he were a guest.
It is ironic that in
this land of desolation, where the sheep have died by the thousands, men have died
without anyone knowing, where the rocks break because it is so dry, and the people must
rely on relief from another country, that Daru feels like a lord in his small home,
though it is humble, little more than a room, and he is alone. He loves the land, he
has what he needs to survive minimally, and does not begrudge the land its inhospitable
treatment of those who live in the region.
It is ironic
that someone familiar with war would be so reticent (hesitant) to carry a weapon, even
if it means saving his own life.
There is a certain irony
that the Arab has the means to escape and he still journeys to the jail. One would
expect him to run away and take the gift Daru offers at a second chance, but the Arab
continues on, to deliver himself to the authorities.
I
don't think verbal irony is the same as sarcasm. Irony refers to the difference between
what we expect to happen and what really happens. (Though some
sources will say it also refers to the difference between what is said and what is
meant.) If a fireman's house burns down, it is ironic. If a thief is robbed, it is
ironic. It can be expressed verbally when what is said is not what is meant, but it may
be presented simply as a statement of fact. "Physician, heal thyself" is a famous line
that expresses an irony, but it is not necessary sarcastic. It points out an
inconsistency which is often what irony is.
Sarcasm is
defined as "a sharp, bitter, cutting expression." It can be most obvious based upon the
tone used by the speaker. "Do you think you'll have a good day at school?" "Yeah,
right!" What is said and what is meant in the response to the question is not ironic.
It is sarcastic. The tone is biting; there is a negative component in the
response.
If someone said something sarcastic to me, I
would never respond with, "Don't be ironic." I would say, "Don't be sarcastic." The
original Greek suggested that irony meant "one who dissembles" or lies. However, if we
see irony in the thief who is robbed, there is no lie present. If the original use of
the word referred to the act of lying, I think it has altered over time and that today
we use the term "sarcasm."
This is my opinion. There are
people who will say they are the same, and others who are certain they are
not.
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