STYLISTIC FUNCTIONS OF IRONY IN PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Abstract

This article examines the stylistic functions of irony in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The study analyzes the use of verbal, situational, and dramatic irony and their contribution to characterization, social criticism, and narrative development. Through a stylistic analysis of selected passages, the research demonstrates how irony shapes readers’ perceptions of characters and exposes the social conventions of nineteenth-century English society. The findings reveal that irony serves as a multifunctional stylistic device that enhances both the aesthetic and communicative value of the novel