Ironic Intimidation
Jack is using irony as a form of parental intimidation in order to cojole Stanley into asking for a raise from his boss. The cajolery is in the form of threatening to belittle Stanley in front of his boss by treating him like a child which Stanley proves quite ironically not to be:
“You want me to take you by the hand and walk into his office, `My little boy wants a raise’”
The Best Yankees
Eugene bemoans being Jewish in part because there are no famous Jewish players on the New York Yankees. He then goes on to observe “All the best Yankees are Italian.” This is a rather ironic conclusion when one considers the names associated with Yankee dominance: Ruth, Gehrig, Dickey, Gomez, and Ruffing whereas Joe DiMaggio’s had only just joined the team the year before.
“The greatest story in the history of the world.”
Stanley relates the story of how standing up for a fellow worker at his job cost him that job. The story involves—at least according to Stanley’s recount—sweeping trash over the newly shined shoes of his boss. That is the highlight and the climax of the tale. Eugene’s reaction—quote above—is sincere emotionally, but ironic in consideration of the events.
Pop
Jack Jerome is a strong patriarchal figure. He takes care of his family and is committed to the work ethic. Eugene’s observation of this aspect of his father’s personality is put in ironic form:
“I would now like to introduce my father, a real hard worker. He was born at the age of forty-two.”
Victimhood
Eugene’s asides to the audience is filled with ironic humor that casts himself as a victim. The humor is ironic, but the scenes playing out before our eyes that accompanies the aside reveals that he actually is being victimized routinely by being blamed for things he either didn’t do or that are not entirely his fault for having happened. Occasionally, he even gives voice to his victimhood within the narrative to other characters:
STANLEY: I heard a lot of yelling. What happened?
EUGENE: I don’t know, but it’s my fault.
