Power and powerlessness
Although Eadlyn is a powerful person in her community, she is subject to their opinion and approval, and when they demand that she participate in the Selection, she feels obligated to do so to keep the peace. Even the height of power is shown in balance with the opinion of others. This is worsened by the recent caste changes and the resulting instability. Not only is she subject to public scrutiny—they already don't really like her.
Publicity
There is a well-demonstrated irony in the way the country wants to watch Eadlyn's private life. She is public with things that are properly private, allowing the country to enjoy her romantic life from a voyeuristic lens—after all she is an 18-year-old single girl trying to find a spouse. She doesn't want to be public about her personal life, but she knows that allowing her people such a distraction will garner public approval.
The irony of Selection
The Selection itself is ironic because it forces love to emerge from a competition. Yes, nature has made sexuality something of a competition, but some of Eadlyn's best candidates are those who don't thrive in competition, like Erik who completely shuts down. Eadlyn may not necessarily want the most competitive man available, and besides, the whole process leads to jealousy and regret. There is something unhealthy about the Selection; that's why she didn't want to participate.
The mother's heart attack
The heart attack is ironic to Eadlyn because she expects one kind of conversation. She is going to talk to her parents about her feelings of frustration, disenfranchisement, and public novelty. Then, instead, she realizes how much more frustrating, disenfranchising, and perplexing life can become. She is forced to adjust her expectations drastically. The idea of her mother's death is ironic because it is deeply negative news, but it helps Eadlyn to appreciate the present moment.
Responsibility and love
Eadlyn discovers that love is important for many other reasons besides the reasons that her emotions tell her. For one thing, it is part of the natural order. When her mother becomes ill, Eadlyn realizes that time is fleeting, and she realizes that love is part of the plot of life. This realization makes her more willing to accept responsibility, to become an active agent instead of a passive witness in her life. She decides that she will actively participate in her Selection.
