Miss Julie

Miss Julie Irony

Kristin Isn't Jealous (Situational Irony)

The audience would probably think Kristin would be jealous of Miss Julie when Jean sleeps with her—after all, she is younger than her and wealthier than her, and Jean was unfaithful. Yet, rather ironically, she says she would be much more jealous of Klara or Sophie, two servant girls. The reason for this becomes clear relatively quickly—they'd be actual threats, while the situation with Julie is absurd—but the irony is still present.

Honor (Situational Irony)

In the preface Strindberg explains that a slave like Jean does not have honor and thus is not preoccupied with keeping it the way Julie is. He lives and she dies; this seems somewhat ironic as one might expect the person with honor to live, but Strindberg defies the expectations of the audience.

Jean is an Aristocrat (Verbal Irony)

When Jean criticizes the other servants, Miss Julie teasingly says, "I do believe you're an aristocrat!" (79). She is being ironic, of course, since class is indelibly fixed and everyone knows that Jean is not an aristocrat.

Going to Church (Situational Irony)

There is hilarious situational irony when Kristin insists that Jean promised to come to church with her and take communion, for Jean is the furthest thing from a religious person—he is lusty, avaricious, cruel, and self-interested.

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