Irony arises some kind of contrast. It is generally a contrast between appearance and reality. It may be a contrast between what a character thinks himself of to be, and what he really is; between what he believes, and what the reader knows to be actually the case; between what a character says and what he really means to convey; between what a character thinks he will do or achieve, and what he really in the long run does or achieves; between what the reader thinks is going to happen, and what actually happens; between the reader’s or a character’s anticipation and the actual event, and so on.
Jane Austen is a comic writer, and therefore, the use of irony in her novels adds to the comic effect at which she aims.
Ironical Reversal of the situation in the Darcy-Elizabeth Plot: Elizabeth Bennet who conceives a dislike for Darcy due to the remarks passed on her by him. Darcy explicitly utters to Bingley that she is not so much agreeable to tempt him to dance with. Darcy made this remark in such a haughty manner that it is natural, noone would like to hear such type of comments for oneself. Elizabeth goes through a series of opinions regarding Darcy. The initial dislike changed into hatred and this hatred reaches its zenith when she becomes acquainted with the role of Darcy in the break up of Bingley and Jane. IRONY Darcy undergoes a change from initial pride to a like of liking for Elizabeth. The initial relationship between these two people persons can be considered as a sort of mutual antagonism. And yet eventually these two antagonists are united in a wedlock.
The irony is also present in the case of Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy tells Mr. Bingley that Jane is not so much in love with him as he is in love with her. Accordingly, Mr. Bingley gives up his idea of proposing marriage to Jane. But afterwards, Mr. Darcy withdraws his pressure upon Bingley which he has been exerting so far. Eventually, Jane-Bingley’s relationship culminates into a marriage.