Dramatic irony is presented through the medium of performing arts, particularly the theatre. It occurs when the audience is well informed about the situation or the circumstances as compared to the theatrical performers who are meant to be completely ignorant. William Shakespeare was a master of dramatic irony and used it in many of his plays like Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Macbeth and The Tempest. The dramatic irony in Romeo and Juliet occurs when Romeo kills himself after he assumes that Juliet is dead but the audience is aware that Juliet is asleep under the influence of drugs. When she wakes up and finds Romeo's dead body, she kills herself.
Another example of dramatic irony is used effectively by Shakespeare in Macbeth when the main character Macbeth makes plans to murder Duncan while pretending to be loyal on his face. The irony of the drama arises because while the audience is aware of Macbeth's plan, Duncan is blissfully ignorant of what is going to happen to him.