The Devil’s Song (Dramatic Irony)
At the end of the prologue, the Devil sings a song about eating the three Jean children. However, the audience already knows that Ti-Jean will defeat the Devil, because the animals introduce the plot of the story at the beginning of the play. The Devil’s song is therefore an example of dramatic irony, because we know that things will not go according to his plan.
Gros Jean’s Strength (Situational Irony)
Gros Jean believes that his strength will protect him from anything. However, his mother argues that his strength will always fail when it attempts to run up against death. Indeed, Gros Jean quickly loses to the Devil, and his strength doesn’t matter at all once he’s a corpse. Ironically, Gros Jean’s faith in his own strength is part of what leads him towards the Devil, his death, and ultimately, the loss of his strength.
Mi-Jean Speaking to the Old Man (Dramatic Irony)
Mi-Jean’s conversation with the old man is an example of dramatic irony. Mi-Jean notices that the old man has a hoof instead of a foot, but instead of recognizing its significance, he looks in his book, which tells him nothing. Led astray by the encyclopedia and the old man’s cunning, he forgets about the book entirely. Later, the old man even gives him a hint about his identity, and Mi-Jean rejects it, saying that the Devil wouldn’t give himself away so easily. Throughout this conversation, the audience knows the old man is the Devil. Mi-Jean’s belief in his own intelligence makes him look especially foolish throughout the scene, and heightens the irony of his ignorance regarding the old man’s real identity.
Mother’s Death (Situational Irony)
Mother’s death is an example of situational irony. Ti-Jean has spent the whole act trying to defeat the Devil. When he finally wins, he learns that his mother is dying, yet, ironically, this terrible calamity has nothing to do with the Devil. The enemy he has been focusing on has no power over the most tragic event Ti-Jean undergoes.
