The paradox of the tutor
Lord Withen is determined to train his boy in fighting skills like other boys in the village. Despite knowing that Vanyel is interested in fashion and self-appearance, Withen takes his son to a tutor to try his like in fighting. Ironically, Vanyel proves to be a good fighter, and he outshines his tutor! Paradoxically, the tutor lies to Withen that his son is a failure and cannot excel in fighting. Consequently, the tutor is jealous of Vanyel's prowess in fighting.
The irony of Vanyel’s interests
Vanyel is a boy, and his father expects him to be interested in playing with other boys and experimenting with manly things in life. Ironically, Vanyel is uninterested in anything to do with boyhood; instead, he is interested in his appearance and fashion. Vanyel spends most of his time making himself look appealing like a girl. Later, Vanyel realizes that he is homosexual.
The satire of Aunt Savil
Aunt Savil is a satirical character because after realizing that Vanyel is not excellent in barding, he teaches him how to have the sexual feeling with the same gender! Therefore, after some training on self-love, Vanyel realizes that he has a sexual feeling towards males and decides to be homosexual.
The irony of the village attack
The tutor and all the men who have trained the fighting skills are cowards because they cannot confront the dragon and the evil wizard that kill people and destroy the entire village. Ironically, Vanyel, who the tutor declared as unfit, is the one who kills the dragon and the evil wizard.
