USE OF IRONY AND SOCIAL SATIRE IN “AN OLD-FASHIONED STORY”

Laurie Colwin’s “An Old-Fashioned Story” is a work that deals with high society’s misconceptions. From the beginning of the story, the Rodkers and the Leopolds display a unique view regarding the upbringing of their children and the expectations they have for them. Naturally, these parents think that their expectations will be met without questioning; after all, their children have everything they can possibly need to succeed. However, the author brilliantly uses elements of irony and social satire to gradually reveal that both Nelson and Elizabeth will surely take their own path, instead of the ones that has been planned out for them.
From the beginning, it is clear that Nelson and Elizabeth are under great pressure to succeed. At the same time, however, there is a tremendous contrast in the responses of Nelson and Elizabeth to such pressure. On one hand, Nelson excels at almost everything he does. He portrays that perfect child whom any parent would be glad to call his or her son. On the other hand, Elizabeth is a rebel who is not willing to conform to the standards set by her parents, especially her forced visits with Nelson. As the story progresses, Elizabeth becomes very wild and does things that are scorned by the people of her social standing. The way in which Elizabeth’s shocking behavior is revealed establishes social satire in the story. It is amusing, and sometimes outright funny, to see the way Elizabeth’s mother reacts to some of her daughter’s thoughts and actions. However, there is not much Mrs. Leopold can do to curb her daughter’s rebellion. An even more amusing use of social satire comes when Nelson’s real character is revealed at the end of the story. Until that time, Nelson is perceived as a virtuous young man who does nothing but listen to his parents. No one could have foreseen what would come next. Nelson’s confession in his own words: “I am most certainly not my family. I don’t like my family and I never have. My family is silly, stuffy, and rigid. You’re not the only one who behaved yourself and got out fast. What do you think I am?” It is one thing to see Elizabeth take a path of independence and free thought, but seeing Nelson reveal that he too has always been at odds with his family is truly shocking. Indeed, Nelson and Elizabeth’s confessions about their views throughout the story are perfect examples of social satire, which, in this case deals, with the abnormities of high class youth.
Along with social satire, Laurie Colwin also uses irony beautifully in her story. It is clear from the beginning of the story that the Rodkers and the Leopolds have many plans for their children; however, the most important one is that their children will one day marry each other. Therefore, they frequently bring Nelson and Elizabeth together so that a strong bond should develop between the two. Nevertheless, this plan backfires because Elizabeth ends up hating Nelson. “He [Nelson] was a nice-looking, somewhat expressionless boy whom Elizabeth found more and more repulsive… [Elizabeth] found his posture disgusting as well.” Clearly, Elizabeth wants nothing to do with Nelson; and, apart from occasional meetings to dinner, Elizabeth does not have contact with Nelson. So, as the story progresses, not much thought is put into an eventual relationship between the two. Notwithstanding, Elizabeth and Nelson eventually discover that they love each other and end up together. Indeed, the use of irony in this story serves as a thrill-builder because it is revealed only at the end of the story, thus compelling the reader to try and come up with possible endings to the story.
In conclusion, the use of social satire and irony in this story is evident. Both elements create a sense of uncertainty about Elizabeth and Nelson’s character because they make those characters seem unpredictable. Moreover, these elements create uncertainty about the overall plot of the story. Most of the events that happen in the story are not predictable, because of the altering characters of Elizabeth and Nelson, the main characters of the story. It is through irony and social satire, both continually present in the story, that “An Old-Fashioned Story” is truly an unpredictable work.