The satire of distrust at first sight
Mrs. Graham is described as a secluded widow who does not want to share her story with her fellow villagers. Whenever villagers go to visit her, she gives a cold reception. One of the people interested in Mrs. Graham is Gilbert, who finds her beautiful. Ironically, Mrs. Graham does not trust him, and she refuses his advances. When Mrs. Graham's son hanged on a tree helplessly, Gilbert came to his rescue, which suddenly made Mrs. Graham trust him. Therefore, it is ironic for Mrs. Graham to distrust Gilbert at first sight without knowing who he is.
The irony of the guests’ opinions on education in Markham’s dinner
Her son accompanies Mrs. Graham to Markham's dinner, where guests discuss education and alcohol issues. Ironically, the guests are surprised when Mrs. Graham says that her child cannot taste alcohol and get a proper education. According to the guests, it is not a crime to deny children education, and if possible, they can take alcohol if they wish. The reader finds the guest's opinion on education ironic because they have not prioritized education for their children.
The irony of love
Love relationship is among the vital themes in the novel because several characters are trying to win the hearts of each other. For instance, Gilbert is in a relationship with Eliza, but he also has a crush on Mrs. Graham. Jane is having a crush on Mr. Lawrence, who pays much attention to Mrs. Graham. The irony of love in this novel is that characters are using ethical means to win their targets. For instance, Jane and Eliza are spreading scandalous rumors against Mrs. Graham because she is becoming an unbeatable competitor in their relationships.
Helen’s marriage to Arthur
Helen knows that Arthur is a womanizer from the beginning, even before getting into a serious relationship. Helen's sister warns her that Arthur is unfaithful and will never change. Satirically, Helen is blinded by love, and she believes that if she marries him, he will change and become a faithful man. Unfortunately, even after the wedding, Arthur becomes more involved with extramarital affairs.
Arthur’s sexual behavior
From the beginning, Arthur is depicted as an unfaithful man who cheats on his wife with several women. The satire is that Arthur goes to the extent of sleeping with Annabella, the wife of his best friend called Lord Loughborough. Consequently, besides betraying his wife, Arthur is betraying his close friends by having enigmatic sexual affairs with their wives.
