Irony as a literary technique is one of the most effective and common weapons in the hands of a writer. It is used to display a contrast between what the expectations of a situation are and what is actually the case using a third element that defines what is actually the case, which is ironic due to the situation that is there. led. Irony, whether verbal, dramatic, or situational, is used to emphasize the truth, thus allowing the author to illustrate a moral or lesson and heighten its effect. This is seen in both the novels Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and 1984 by George Orwell. In Heart of Darkness, the greatest irony is the transformation that occurs in Kurtz during his stay at the inner station of the Company of which he is a member. agent. During his early years, Kurtz was something of an intellectual. He once even wrote a pamphlet setting out his opinions on the role of the white man in the backward countries he had explored. According to him, whites could discuss great benefits for the backward peoples of the countries they visited, conquered and governed. The whites could suppress the savage customs of these backward peoples and civilize them. Although Kurtz had progressive views on the role of white men in the uncharted regions of Africa, he wrote at the end of the pamphlet: "Exterminate all the brutes." Instead of civilizing the savages, he himself becomes savage. Kurtz, however, still maintains himself as a civilized man. Whenever he is at his headquarters, he acts in a civilized manner, but when he enters the interior of the dark country, he recognizes himself as a savage. Conrad relies on the use of character development in order to support the irony which helps to showcase the madness that ...... middle of paper ...... ngs they wish to remember, but it is actually an incinerator. The Ministry of Love where Winston is sent is actually a place where he is tortured. The Ministry of Truth is where Winston works to make up the lies in the history books. The Ministry of Peace is actually violent. Another irony is that of the leader of the Party, "Big Brother", who is not a traditional concept of an older brother, but rather a figure who watches every move and controls with fear. 1984 helps to emphasize the truth allowing the authors to successfully convey their lesson and moral. The nature of irony is unique in that if there are flaws, they are represented much more accurately and directly. This allows the author to primarily use the surrounding features of the protagonist's universe to show the moral or lesson..