Situational Irony Research Essay Example

Situational Irony Research Essay Example Essay on Situational Irony According to Nordquist (1), situational irony involves an occasion in which the action that is envisaged has an effect which is opposite to what it was intended at. He notes that, in such cases, the outcome of the action taken is normally contrary to the expected results. This is due to the fact that the results of situational irony normally recognize the unfairness of a given incident which a person cannot typically explain using logics, but which is so obvious to those evaluating the situation. Nordquist (1) points out that situational irony primarily focuses on both the surprising and inevitable fragility of the human condition in which the results of actions taken depict the reversal of what is expected. Therefore, situational irony entails incoherence between what an individual says, believes, and does with what the actual things are. This paper narrates a situational ironic incident. The Situational Ironic Incident Mike is the only child in a family who has struggled for many years using cultural practice and medicinal intervention in order to get a child. From the onset of his conception and then birth, Mikes family regarded him as a gift from God and hence offered him better living standards. Mikes parents wanted him to be successful in life, and therefore, offered him every quality services with a view of bettering his future. However, despite his parents efforts, Mike ended up being a clown. This was largely contributed by his nature of joking around since his childhood. As Oliveri (1) pointed out, a clown refers to a cosmic performer who entertains audience by engaging jokes, antics, or tricks in a circus. Mike then became one of the best known clowns who not only loved his job, but was also good at it and, therefore, did not think of the possibility of any misfortune arising out of his job. As Oliver (1) noted, a good and professional clown not only makes audience laugh, but he or she is a renowned true performer who has many talents and whose main objective is to make people happy. Therefore, dressed in his colored wigs, stylistic makeup, and outlandish costumes, Mike would perform either physical, hysterical or scary tricks such as walking on a fine line. This would make him to be an outstanding performer who normally catches peoples emotions and transformes them into happy endings especially through exciting jokes. Event though Mikes parents disapproved his occupation, they continuously warned him to be careful with his tricks so that he would not fall victim of the actions he engages into. However, not too long after, Mikes parents received a call from the hospital noting that their only son, Mike was dead. On the way to the hospital, Mikes parents kept on calling their relatives asking if they knew of any terrible accident or murder that had occurred. They ruled out the possibility of the death to have been caused by any disease since Mikes health had not previously shown any symptom of infection. Equally, the death could not have resulted from his occupation since he was a renowned professional clown. Amazingly, on reaching the hospital, Mikes parents were surprised to find out that Mike had died from choking on a balloon. This was really ironical. Conclusion In conclusion, Mikes incident depicts a situational irony right from its beginning when he opt into an occupation which was contrary to better educational and living standards he was given. Besides, the incident is ironical because Mikes parents, who were against his occupation, still offered cautionary advices to him which is contrary to what would be expected. Moreover, it was so ironical for Mike, a professional clown with immensely talented tricks and jokes, just to die from choking on a balloon or something. Even though, the unusual nature of the circumstances surrounding Mikes incident are obvious, there is no known logical and clear understanding of their explanation.

Coal Mining in the UK During the Industrial Revolution

Coal Mining in the UK During the Industrial Revolution The state of the mines which boomed throughout the United Kingdom during the industrial revolution is a passionately argued area. It is very hard to generalize about the living and working conditions experienced in mines, as there was great regional variation and some owners acted paternalistically while others were cruel. However, the business of working down the pit was dangerous, and safety conditions were often far below par. Payment Coal miners were paid by the amount and quality of the coal they produced, and they could be fined if there was too much slack (the smaller pieces). Quality coal was what owners required, but managers determined the standards for quality coal. Owners could keep costs low by claiming the coal was of a poor quality or rigging their scales. A version of the Mines Act (there were several such acts) appointed inspectors to check the weighing systems.   Workers received a relatively high basic wage, but the amount was deceptive. A system of fines could quickly reduce their pay, as could having to buy their own candles and stoppages for dust or gas. Many were paid in tokens which had to be spent in shops created by the mine owner, allowing them to recoup the wages in profits for overpriced food and other goods.   Working Conditions Miners had to cope with hazards regularly, including roof collapses and explosions. Starting in 1851, inspectors recorded fatalities, and they found that respiratory illnesses were common and that various illnesses plagued the mining population. Many miners died prematurely. As the coal industry expanded, so did the number of deaths, Mining collapses were a common cause of death and injury.   Mining Legislation Government reform was slow to take place.  Mine owners protested these changes and claimed many of the guidelines meant to protect the workers would reduce their profits too greatly, but the laws passed during the nineteenth century, with the first Mines Act passing in 1842. Although it contained no provisions for housing or inspection. It represented a small step in the government taking responsibility for safety, age limits, and wage scales. In 1850, another version of the act required regular inspection in mines throughout the U.K. and gave the inspectors some authority in determining how the mines were run. They could fine owners, who violated the guidelines and report deaths. However, at the start, there were only two inspectors for the entire country.   In 1855, a new act introduced seven basic rules about ventilation, air shafts, and the mandatory fencing off of unused pits. It also established higher standards for signaling from the mine to  the surface, adequate breaks for the steam-powered elevators, and safety rules for steam engines. Legislation enacted in 1860 banned children under twelve from working underground and required regular inspections of the weighing systems. Unions were allowed to grow. Further legislation in 1872 increased the number of inspectors and made sure they actually had some experience in mining before they began. By the end of the nineteenth century, the industry had gone from being largely unregulated to having miners represented in Parliament through the surging Labour Party.