By now you should have learned about irony, one of the most important literary devices used. There are many definitions of irony, but a simple definition is the contrast between what was supposed to happen and what actually happens. Irony is divided into three types: situational irony (you crave oranges, then discover you're allergic to them), verbal irony ("Oh, you're so funny!" when someone isn't funny [sarcasm]), and dramatic irony (while reading, you know there is a monster in the closet, but the character doesn't). Many examples of irony are provided in the novel Brave New World, a novel set in the future where humans are biologically engineered and conditioned for their role in society. The novel exemplifies irony because even though they have established rules and regulations, most people tend not to follow them, including world leaders. In the first two chapters, Lenina, a young woman, is introduced. When we first meet her, we learn that she has been dating a boy, Henry, for the past 4 months. The reader may assume that this is normal, as the same happens in our daily lives, but we soon discover that this is abnormal. In the new world, a regulation is established that men and women cannot have committed relationships, but should have sex with as many men or women as possible. The fact that she isn't promiscuous enough can get her into trouble. “And you know how strongly the DHC objects to anything intense or prolonged… why, he would be furious if he knew…” (Huxley, 41) As the story progresses, however, it becomes an example of new world regulations , admitting that she has had sex with many men. “She was a popular girl and had spent a night with almost all of them at one time or another.” (Huxley, 57) Old world r...... half of the document ......ion and mentions that "... since I make the laws here, I may as well break them." (Huxley, 219) As one of the most powerful men in the world, this example is very ironic. It can be considered situational irony, since the rules are set by the controllers, but they do not follow the rules themselves. In conclusion, many examples are given in the novel that exemplify all three types of irony: situational, verbal, and dramatic. . There are many other examples, such as Bernard wanting attention and John's suicide. His suicide can be an example of irony, with the reader hoping that John (the revolutionary) can succeed, but John takes his own life. Irony plays a huge role in the book, emphasizing that no society can be perfect and that some laws are broken by the creators themselves. Works Cited Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1946.