The irony of Swann’s marriage
The author depicts Swann as a social climber who wants to be associated with the elite. Therefore, Swann decided to marry Odette, who came from a privileged elite family. Ironically, Swann did not take his time to learn Odette's reputation. The harsh reality turned out that Odette was an unfaithful woman who could not stick to one man.
The irony if the elite social class
When Proust's narrator comes of age, he starts making an appearance in major social functions. Proust assumed that the elite society carried itself with dignity, honor, and intellect. Ironically, Proust discovered that most people within the elite social class are nothing significant but attention seekers.
The satire of the social climbers
Every individual wants to live a life of luxury and status. According to Proust's understanding, elite societies live a true lifestyle. Ironically, social climbers cannot be trusted because they live a lie. The life portrayed by the social climbers is fake, immaterial and unrealistic.
The irony of the narrator’s relationship with Albertine
The narrator is coming of age, and he starts having romantic feelings, and he falls in love with Albertine. Ironically, Albertine is a lesbian, but he still pursues her. The reader finds this relationship contradictory because both the characters have opposing views about sexuality. Proust's narrator believes in a sexual relationship where opposite-sex partners are involved, and Albertine is comfortable with lesbianism.
