The Irony of Provision
Throughout the story, it is evident that the author indicates that despite having hardships in answering his life questions, he has nothing to hide. He states that he is living a transparent life and he has nothing to hide. However, in a different scenario, ironically he indicates that no one can coerce him to provide a precise account of what is permissible of him. He writes:
“Do not expect me to provide an exact account of what I have been permitted experience in this domain.”
This irony leaves one to wonder why the author is contradicting himself on the account of what he is permitted to share.
The Irony of a Bouncer
From the context of the narrative, the bouncer is an individual tasked with the responsibility of guarding and protecting the interest of the people below him. His primary mandate is to protect but not to exploit. Ironically, the author takes about-turn to say that the bouncer is exploitative. This is what the author says about the bouncer:
“….. I am merely ready for psychoanalysis, a method I respect and whose present aims I consider nothing less than the expulsion of man from himself, and of which I expect other exploits than of a bouncer”
The irony contradicts the role of a bouncer because he is to guard and protect but exploiting his subjects.
The Irony of the Theater
Under normal circumstances, after going to the theatre one can remember five or more actors. However, it is ironic the author indicates that even after attending the theater, he cannot remember a single actor! This is beyond the expectations of an average person attending a theater session. A theater offers thrilling experience and memories and it is expected that one will can at least remember five actors or even more. The author writes:
"With this system which consists, before going to a movie theatre, of never looking of what is playing – which, moreover, would scarcely do me any good, since I cannot remember the names of more than five or six actors – I run the risk of missing more than others, though here I must confess my weakness for the most absolutely absurd French films."
The Irony of the Naked Woman
Traditionally, no one is looking forward to meeting a naked woman in public because that is a disgrace to humanity. It is also disrespectful for a man to look at a naked woman. On the contrary, it is ironic that the author looks forward to meeting a beautiful naked woman for reasons best known to him. He wishes to see a naked woman because he thinks that is a fantastic achievement. Nevertheless, he regrets never meeting her. He writes:
“I have always, beyond belief, hoped to meet, at night and in a woods, a beautiful naked woman or rather, since such a wish once expressed means nothing, I regret, beyond belief, not having met her.”
The Irony of a Principal of a Girl’s School
The school principal is expected to be a person who shows strength always before his students. Since the principal is the role model, no student expects to see her nervous or with tension. Nervousness and tension are signs of weakness to the head of an institution. It is ironic in the story that the school principal portrays nervousness and tension. The author notes:
“The curtain rises on the office of the principal of a girls’ school. This woman rather a stout blonde of an about forty is discovered alone and gives signs of great nervous tension."
