In what ways in Jane Austen being ironic in the first sentence of the novel?

Answer 1

You should specify the title of the book. If you were referring to Pride and Prejudice, the irony concerns the women's quest (even hunt!!!) of a suitable husband back in those days and the families' unending preoccupation of getting their daughters (especially those with small dowries or legacies) marry WELL.

Answer 2

In the opening sentence of "Pride and Prejudice," Austen writes, "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." This statement is ironic because it sets up the expectation that all single men with wealth are seeking marriage, but the novel goes on to challenge and subvert this societal assumption through the characters and their actions. Austen uses irony to critique and satirize the societal norms and expectations surrounding marriage and class.