Irony is a literary tool that is used to depict the situation in which a speaker’s intention is different from that of reality. In Hanging Fire, Audre Lorde provides a story of a teenage girl who has many troubles in her life related to her skin and a boy. At the first glance, it seems that the girl is just telling about her concerns and have some difficulties in identifying her feelings. Yet, when analysing the poem deeper, it appears that the girl’s biggest issue is her mother and the absence of communication with her. As such, the irony of this poem is that girl is trying to falsify her troubles and concerns, while the initial problem is her mother. This is why the girl keeps telling “and momma’s in the bedroom with the door closed.” Here, “door closed” signals that the girl’s mother is not paying attention to her daughter’s problems and that the daughter is constantly looking at the mother’s side, seeking help and support.
I think that the irony, demonstrating how issues of the girl are directly related to the mother’s relationship with her is, used effectively. This is because the poem looks like simple description of a typical girl with low self-esteem. However, in the reality it shows how lack of attention and communication form the parents’ side may harm the well-being of a child. The irony clearly depicts how some issues of people can be driven from their relationship with parents. Specifically, the girl is confusing about her feeling towards her body image and her lover due to lack of attention, love and support from her parents. Emotionally unavailable mother is destroying her daughter’s self- perception.