What is the irony of the play dear departed??
Answers
The title of the play 'Dear Departed' is ironical. In the beginning of the play, we come to know that grandfather Mr. Abel has departed from this world. He is not dear to his own daughters though they pretend that he is dear to both of them. They are eager to divide his belongings between them. Even Mrs. Slater with whom he has been living fetches his clock and bureau from his room where he is lying 'dead'. Even they can't wait for the last rites of his burial. Even their husbands Ben and Henry do not love grandfather. So, no one is grieved at his departure. In this way, we can say that the title of this play 'Dear Departed' is an ironical statement of dying love and absence of filial obligations.
The irony in the play is that all the members of the family consider Abel as dead even though he's not. They start up didving all the things even without checking if he's dead or alive. The humorous part is that the Jordan's prefer tea over looking the dead body of grandfather. Instead of being sad, they fight over for things and merrily decide what to write in the newspaper declaration. They all get a wonderful shock when Abel comes downstairs.
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