Dialect:
* "She ain't got no money to pay for a doctor," says the neighbor about the sick woman.
* Irony: This statement, while grammatically incorrect, highlights the harsh reality of poverty. The neighbor uses colloquial language that emphasizes the lack of resources and the desperation of the situation. The irony lies in the fact that the neighbor understands the woman's plight but is powerless to help, highlighting the cyclical nature of poverty.
Let's break down the irony further:
* The neighbor is not being intentionally ironic. The use of dialect in this instance reveals the speaker's lack of education and limited options. It's a reflection of their own social position.
* The irony is in the situation. The neighbor's statement, while grammatically incorrect, is a powerful statement about the woman's struggles. The lack of resources underscores the larger social issues that Yezierska is portraying.
* The irony is also in the title, "The Lost Beautifulness." The woman, despite her illness and poverty, represents a lost beauty, a beauty that was crushed by the harsh realities of life in America. The neighbor's statement reinforces this loss.
Other examples of dialect and irony in the story:
* "He's got a good job, see?" The neighbor's statement about the woman's husband, who seems to have abandoned her, ironically points to the lack of support she actually receives.
* "I'm a doctor, see, so I can help you." This statement by the narrator (who is also a doctor) is ironic because she herself is struggling to cope with the poverty and suffering she sees around her.
Yezierska uses dialect and irony effectively to create a realistic and poignant portrayal of immigrant life in America.