… Irony is a double-layered or two-story
phenomenon. At the lower level is the situation either as it appears to the
victim of irony (where there is a victim) or as it is deceptively presented by
the ironist (where there is an ironist). At the upper level is the situation as
it appears to the observer … In the second place there is always some kind of
opposition between the two [layers], an opposition that may take the form of
contradiction, incongruity, or incompatibility … (Muecke 1970)
Through
the application of ironical poetic theory; the identification and examination
of the poet’s purpose and tactics; the identification and analysis of the two
incongruent layers, this study forewarns Juan de Mena’s observer not to be
deceived by appearance and be aware of the reality that the poet is
intentionally hiding behind a giant smokescreen called irony in his masterly
work, Laberinto de Fortuna, with the sole purpose of securing and
strengthening his own professional relationship with King John II.
