The Drunkard

The Drunkard, by Frank O'Conner utilizes the literary technique of irony, throughout the story. The irony helps to show the humor of the story, and overall makes the story interesting. The story involves a father and son, and the relationship between them. The father is a drunk, and the son notices this about his father, and can see the warning signs and effects of his drunkenness. After a funeral, when the father orders a couple of pints of beer, the son decides to see what it takes like. The young boy is immediately plastered after one beer. He goes on to go on drunken slurs, and overall make a fool of himself. O'Connor writes "Who are ye laughing at? I shouted, clenching my fists at them. I'll make ye laugh at the other side of yeer faces if ye don't let me pass." (O'Connor, 350). This is a great example of irony due to the role reversal. The son is acting in the way his father usually would. What is especially ironic, is the father's reaction when he sees his son. The father is embarrassed, and gets angered. He fails to understand the way his son and wife are forced to see him, whenever he himself gets drunk.