Knives Out Irony

Knives Out Irony

Situational Irony: Immigration

The Thrombeys, who are supposedly pro-immigration and pro-immigrants, intensely fight an insult Marta, an immigrant.

Situational Irony: Marta, Harlan’s Only Heir

Marta, who wasn’t part of Harlan’s family, received all of Harlan’s worldly possessions and his family didn’t get even.

Dramatic Irony: Harlan’s Death

Audiences know that Harlan was ultimately the man responsible for his death by slitting his throat before almost every character in the film does.

Verbal Irony: Marta’s Funeral Invitation

Virtually all of the Thrombeys tell Martha that they wanted her to attend Harlan’s funeral but were “overruled.” This is the opposite of they really meant: they didn’t want her at the funeral at all.

Verbal Irony: Marta Thrombey?

Many of the Thrombeys tell Marta that they think of her as part of the family. This is the opposite of what they mean: they don’t think of her as family at all, as exemplified by the withheld invitation to Harlan’s funeral and their all-around mistreatment of her.

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