Walter’s view of Phyllis (situational irony)
In the beginning, Walter views Phyllis as a frustrated, desperate housewife trapped in a loveless marriage. He naively believes that Phyllis is an innocent victim who is driven to desperate acts of violence by the tyrannical, overbearing behavior of her uncaring husband. Walter initially believes that Phyllis is fleeing from an unaffectionate husband and has genuinely fallen in love with him. But in truth, things are far different, and it is precisely Walter's misapprehension of the situation that leads to his downfall. Phyllis is neither a desperate housewife trapped in an unhappy marriage, nor an innocent victim of domestic abuse. Phyllis is in fact an unscrupulous, sophisticated killer devoid of feelings, compassion and human sympathy. She does not love Walter and does not seem to have any genuine attachments to a living person. During the planning and the execution of the crime, Walter naively believes that he is a figure of dominance. Ironically, Phyllis is the dominant figure of their crime. Walter is not the chivalrous knight in shining armor coming to the rescue a damsel in distress, he is, in fact, a victim who has fallen into the snare of a siren, and has allowed himself to become a dispensable pawn in her game. In his belief that Phyllis is a distressed housewife in need of his assistance, Walter reveals the naïve and impressionable sides of his character.
Lola’s trust of Walter (situational and dramatic irony)
During the film, Lola Dietrichson places an absolute trust in Walter. It has never entered into her thought that Walter could actually be the murderer of her ill-fated father. She asks Walter to offer her a ride and relates her personal life to him. Ironically, the moment that Lola is pouring out her heart to Walter, he is actually contemplating the murder of her beloved father. After the murder, Lola confesses her suspicions to Walter, thereby confessing her suspicions to the murderer himself. She thus possibly helps to protect the murderer, rather than leading to his capture, as she hopes. Lola is extremely naïve and impressionable. She swiftly falls under the charms of Walter and allows herself to be entertained by him. Instead of relating her suspicions to other members of the insurance company, she quickly dispels her suspicions from her mind and lets the subject drop. Lola’s opinions of Walter could not have been more ironic. Instead of suspecting that the agent who wrote his father’s insurance policy might be the instigator of the crime, the naïve Lola comes to regard Walter as a confidant and a bosom friend.
The irony of Mr. Dietrichson’s will (situational irony)
Mr. Dietrichson insures his life in his daughter’s name. Upon his death, all of his property will pass on to Lola, leaving his wife Phyllis virtually penniless. Mr. Dietrichson views his will as an arrangement which will safeguard his daughter’s financial security. Ironically, this financial arrangement has in fact placed both his daughter and himself in great peril. A greedy, cold-hearted and resourceful woman like Phyllis is not content to become a penniless widow upon her husband’s death. Since her husband refuses to provide for her future, Phyllis goes to the length of murder in attempt to safeguard her financial interests. Because Mr. Dietrichson refuses to care for her, Phyllis believes that she must take matters into her hands and safeguard her own future. She murders her husband in the hope that she will receive a handsome payment from the insurance company. When this attempt fails, she starts to plot against Lola, hoping that Lola’s legacy will pass onto herself. Had Mr. Dietrichson been more generous in his will, he might have avoided the tragedy of being murdered by his wife. Ironically, Mr. Dietrichson’s will not only seals his own fate, it has nearly destroyed Lola’s life. Unbeknownst to him, Mr. Dietrichson has played a vital role in his own destruction.
Irony of Keyes' trust towards Walter (dramatic irony)
Walter has an extremely close relationship with his superior Keyes. They are very attached and genuinely fond of one another. Keyes treats Walter like a son. After the murder of Dietrichson, although Keyes suspects that there is something fishy with this case, he never allows his suspicion to dwell on Walter. Although Keyes possesses a sharp intellect and a penetrating insight, he refuses to believe that Walter can be responsible for Dietrichson’s death. Ironically, Keyes goes to Walters' apartment the day after the murder, and confesses to the actual murderer about his fear that Dietrichson might have been killed by someone. While Keyes thinks he is consulting with a trusted confidant, he is in fact sabotaging his murder investigation by going over to Walter’s apartment and relating to the murderer his suspicions. The fiercely intelligent claim investigator of the insurance company is completely blinded by his unconditional trust towards his colleague. His trust in Walter led Keyes to suspect the innocent Zachetti, while ignoring the fact that the real murderer is actually right under his nose.
