Dramatic Irony: Verses
Xiomara stands before her mirror practicing her own verses, and when Mami hears her talking and says she better not be rapping, she calls out, "Verses, I'm memorizing verses" (79). She is pleased with herself that she isn't lying, and the dramatic irony lies in the fact that she is telling the truth and Mami is content with her answer but does not know what kind of verses she really means.
Situational Irony: Christianity
Xiomara's mother is a devout Christian, a member of a religion that is supposed to be about peace, charity, and understanding. Instead, she is often cruel, deeply restrictive of what her children can do, and critical when they go outside of that idea. She is a contrast to what the Christian faith is supposed to be.
Situational Verbal Irony: Xiomara's Name
Xiomara tells the reader her name is not a saint's name but instead is about being a warrior. She says that Mami "Gave me this gift of battle and now curses / how well I live up to it" (7). This is said with irony, but it is also ironic that the extremely pious Mami did not know what this name meant when she chose it for her daughter.
Verbal Irony: The Only Man
Xiomara reflects on what she has heard about her Mami and Papi, and says ironically, "The only man Mami wanted / was nailed to a cross" (22). The irony lies in, first, the "only man" part, as she is talking about Jesus, the Son of God, who is far from being a simple man. And it is meant to be ironic that Mami desires someone who is so far beyond her grasp as to be fully incomprehensible. This reinforces how religious Mami is.
