Final answer:
The use of dramatic irony suggests the loss of knowledge when civilization is destroyed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of dramatic irony in this story suggests the loss of knowledge that could happen when civilization is destroyed. Dramatic irony is when the audience or reader knows something that the characters in the story do not. In this case, the readers are aware of the destructive effects of industrialization on the environment and human well-being, while the characters in the story are oblivious to it.
For example, the owners of the factories in the story are portrayed as destroying the air, water, and the health of the workers. They are so focused on the pursuit of industrial progress that they fail to see the harm they are causing to nature and to themselves.
This ignorance of the characters highlights the potential consequences of a civilization that prioritizes advancement at the expense of the environment and human welfare, leading to a loss of knowledge and understanding of the natural world.