Final answer:
The irony in Stables' conclusion with an analogy lies in the contrast between what is expected and the actual outcome of the analogy. It typically serves to challenge the reader's understanding or offer a new perspective on the essay's subject.
Step-by-step explanation:
The irony in Stables' conclusion with an analogy might relate to the juxtaposition of what is expected versus the actual outcome presented in the analogy. Often in literature, irony is used to create a contrast between appearance and reality or between what is expected and what actually occurs. When a writer concludes an essay with an analogy that is ironic, it usually means that the analogy defies the reader's expectations in some way, suggesting a deeper or unexpected insight.
For example, if an essay about progress ends with an analogy of someone climbing a ladder only to reach the same level they started on, this could be seen as ironic because climbing typically symbolizes ascent and improvement, not stasis. Thus, the irony lies in the discrepancy between the action of climbing and the lack of actual progress, which might illustrate the essay's deeper message about the illusory nature of progress in certain contexts.
In the case of Stables, if the essay employs an analogy that contrasts sharply with the arguments laid out beforehand, the irony would be in the unexpected twist that the analogy provides, potentially challenging the reader's understanding of the previously presented content or offering a new perspective on the essay's subject.