Django Unchained

Django Unchained Irony

Schultz killing Bill Sharp (situational irony)

When Schultz boldly rides into Daughtrey, Texas, with Django at his side on horseback, sending the townspeople fleeing in terror, the audience expects that the two will soon be apprehended by law enforcement. Instead, in a case of situational irony, Schultz lawfully kills the sheriff, who is actually a wanted criminal named Bill Sharp.

Django's Escape from the Australian Transporters (dramatic irony)

Django tells the Australian transporters tasked with bringing him to the LeQuint Dickey Mining Camp that he is in fact a bounty hunter trailing a man named Smitty Bacall, who is back at Candyland. This is an example of dramatic irony, given that the audience knows that Django has already killed Smitty Bacall, and is spinning this tale in order to disarm and out-maneuver his would-be captors.

Bennett's Mob's Argument (situational irony)

Tarantino films Bennett and his mob riding on his horseback with thunderous, choral music, as they yell and brandish torches over the hillsides. This image leads the audience to expect that the mob is a fearsome, organized gang, dead-set on executing slaves and slave sympathizers. Instead, in an example of situational irony, the incompetent mob becomes humorously embroiled in a petty argument about their makeshift masks, before being blown up by a booby-trapped bomb.

Candie's Phrenology Monologue (dramatic irony)

After Stephen has successfully convinced Candie that Django, Broomhilda, and Schultz are attempting to swindle him out of $12,000, Candie re-enters the dining room and delivers a sinister monologue about phrenology, while wielding the skull of a deceased slave named Old Ben. This is an example of dramatic irony, given that Django and Schultz have not yet realized that Candie has caught wise to their scheme.

Django's Reaction to D'Artagnan's Death (dramatic irony)

Candie orders the runaway slave D'Artagnan to be torn apart by wild dogs in front of Schultz, Django, and the other members of the cavalcade. Candie studies Django's reaction while doing so, hoping to see some evidence that Django is in fact only pretending to be inoculated to the brutality of Mandingo fighting. This is an example of dramatic irony, because although Candie is satisfied by Django's reaction, the audience knows that Django is only pretending to be a black slaver.