Saved

Saved Irony

Fred and the boys kill the baby (Dramatic Irony)

One of the most horrific and most disturbing moments in the play is when Fred and his friends, left alone with the baby pram in the park, end up killing the baby by stoning it to death. It's a difficult and violent scene that the audience witnesses, but that none of the other characters see. Thus, it creates an instance of dramatic irony in which we the audience know that they have committed infanticide, but no one else does. This dramatic tension comes to a head when Pam comes on and fetches the pram, talking to the baby as though it's still alive, unaware that it's been killed.

Fred says thugs killed the baby (Dramatic Irony)

Even after he's killed the baby, Fred feels no remorse, and tells Pam that a group of thugs came and committed the act of violence. We the audience know that he is lying, but Pam accepts his account without question, accounting for another instance of dramatic irony.

Harry saying no one can "get away with murder" (Situational Irony)

At one point, Harry is talking about Mary's loose morals and the fact that she gets away with things. He says, "When someone carries on like 'er, they 'ave t' pay for it. People can't get away with murder. What'd 'appen then?" This statement is ironic because it comes after the audience has already witnessed Fred get away with the literal murder of a baby and feel no remorse.

Len saw the act (Situational Irony)

While visiting Fred in jail, Len tells him that he saw the murder of the baby. This seems like it could result in a turning point, like perhaps Len will tell the authorities exactly what he saw and justice will be served for the infant's death. Ironically, however, Len does not seem to speak up and instead stays quiet about what he saw, ignoring an opportunity to do some good.