J.T. Malone vs Judge Clane
Who deserves to die? A meek, friendly pharmacist of only 40 years of age, or the hateful, indulgent narcissist who imposes his bygone views on a whole town? And yet, ironically, the "Clock Without Hands" does not spare Malone from an early death. One must wonder if Judge Clane's punishment is his existence itself.
The irony of health and wellness
There are no healthy characters in the novel. By the end, the only dynamic character who has any moral decency is Malone, but that's only because he has been shaped by his humbling experience with cancer.
Sherman Pew
What did Sherman do to deserve a terrifying, traumatic death? Certainly, Sherman is only a victim, and therefore he represents the ironic of racism. What could possibly be worst than terroristic hatred? Certainly, any perceived inequality between the races must fall short of actual hatred. He represents the ironic community who is evil, but treats innocent victims as if they were the evil ones. Yes, evil is a strong word, but there aren't many good words for those who bomb innocent people and kill them.
The ironic speech
What is the last thing a racist community wants to hear from their racist leader in the wake of the end of segregation? One must imagine a speech by Abraham Lincoln would top that list, but since the Judge acts so hastily, that's exactly what he gives them. The only worse speech he could have recited might have been the Emancipation Proclamation itself.
The irony of progress
One thing the novel does well (and also in the title) is to show that despite the pockets of hatred that existed in the South, progress was inevitable, and though American racism is not entirely a thing of the past, the Confederate spirit did die. Those who try to maintain the legacy of slavery and hatred do so in vain, one must hope.
