Oh, Those Bleeding Heart Slave Owners

Basically everything the colonel thinks or says in Charles W. Chesnutt's The Passing of Grandison is somehow ironic, such as:

"What cold-blooded, heartless monsters they were who would break up this blissful relationship of kindly protection on the one hand, of wise subordination and loyal dependence on the other!" (Chesnutt, p. 234)

This is definitely an example of verbal irony used by the narrator while describing the colonel's outlook, seeing though this exclamation treats the unjust and evil institution of slavery as a fair and mutually beneficial relationship between slave and master.

Another example of verbal irony in the story would be:

"Yas, suh, I 's seen some of 'em. But I don' keer nuffin fer 'em, suh. Dey 're diffe'nt f'm de niggers down ou' way. Dey 'lows dey 're free, but dey ain' got sense 'nuff ter know dey ain' half as well off as dey would be down Souf, whar dey 'd be 'predated." (Chesnutt, p. 236)

At first, a reader might be unsure of this statement made by Grandison, but when the ending is presented we see that this statement is ironic for he does not believe this to be true at all.

The trip and return of Grandison is an example of situational irony. Dick is using Grandison and the trip North so that he can win the heart of Charity but the unexpected return of Grandison is certainly the opposite of what Dick would have liked to have happened. This also has the reader realizing that the trip really benefits Grandison, as he ends up using the trip as a means to become even more favorable in the eyes of the colonel and perhaps become more comfortable in finding a way to Canada resulting in Grandison not only freeing himself but his entire family as well.

Dear, Colonel.

The conclusion made me realize that situational irony is also present in the relationship between the colonel and Grandison. Even though the colonel is slightly fearful that the dastardly abolitionists could possibly sway Grandison, The colonel holds the belief that Grandison is simple minded and that his motives are transparent. The direct opposite of this turns out to be true for The colonel is actually transparent to Grandison, allowing Grandison to use the slave owner’s emotions to his advantage and play the part of the loyal and trustworthy slave that Grandison knows is expected of him.