There are three basic types of irony in literature: verbal, situational, and dramatic. Verbal irony is saying something you do not mean but without intent to deceive (such as saying “we all know everyone’s favorite day is Monday”). Situational irony is when a situation is the opposite of what might be expected (such as a scuba diver drowning in their bathtub). Dramatic irony is in literature when the audience knows something a character does not (for example, a horror film’s main character choosing to open a forbidden door.

Austen uses verbal, situational, and dramatic irony to comment on the novel’s main themes, as well as to satirize society.

Pride and Prejudice’s first line is verbal irony: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” This line reflects Mrs. Bennet’s worldview, which will be critiqued later on in the novel, but even without knowing the story ahead readers will know this is not actually true. Thus, Austen pokes fun at a society wherein women have to marry to have worth; with such a societal value, Mrs. Bennet’s worldview makes sense even if it is not true.

Austen employs dramatic irony when Mr. Collins attempts to rationalize the behavior of all women and cannot understand why Elizabeth would turn his proposal down. On paper, he can provide for her family and is a well-respected man, but the audience knows he is a fool who could never make Elizabeth happy. Situational irony comes into play when Mr. Darcy comments that Elizabeth is merely “tolerable” on the eyes, as he will later come to deeply love her. He also later insults her family’s behavior, and then will go out of his way to protect the Bennets from Lydia’s running away with Mr. Wickham, which could have rendered all other Bennet daughters unsuitable; there is further situational irony in that, as a result of Mr. Darcy’s intervention, Jane and Elizabeth both end up married to men they love.