Rhetorical Devices

Antiphrasis: One word irony, established by context.

I always enjoy the use of single-word irony as a foreshadowing device in the movies. In Star Wars: A New Hope, when Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker arrive at the Cantina, Ben warns Luke that “this place can be a little rough”. Within minutes we see him cut someone’s arm off with his light saber and shortly afterwards see Han Solo shoot someone dead over drinks. The effect upon the viewer is one of understated irony, signaling that we can expect violence in the next few minutes, and that the context of the bar’s roguish clientele are going to be less than welcoming.

Similarly in James Cameron’s Titanic, as Jack and Rose begin to freeze to death in the water after the ship sinks, Jack tells Rose he intends to write a “strongly worded letter to The White Star Line about all of this”, deeply, ironically understating the context of the tragedy unfolding around them. The antiphrasis reflects what we already know to be true of Jack. That he is an eternal optimist, but also that right until the end, he is still trying to make Rose laugh. It further humanizes him as his plight worsens, but also augments the futility of his imminent death.

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