Situational Irony: Money has no power
After Roy Cohn, a man of immense influence and infamy, is diagnosed with AIDS, he tries to use his influence and money to save himself by making sure he receives an experimental AIDS drug. Ironically, the thing that gave him power can’t save him from dying after he is diagnosed. The political power he has is also worthless when he is faced with death and disease thus proving that the things he considered to be powerful are all worthless.
Situational Irony: Roy and Ethel
After Joe tells Roy that he will not go to Washington, Roy reveals his involvement in Ethel Rosenberg’s case that eventually led to her execution. Later, Roy starts to feel excruciating pain and the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg appears before him. Ironically, she is the one who calls the ambulance because there is no other person around him who can help.
Situational Irony: America
Louis says to Joe "You're scared. So am I. Everybody is in the land of the free" (77). This is an ironic statement because many people believe America as a democracy, as a free country, is a place where people are safe and content; however, Louis indicates that is absolutely not true and a place like this can be even scarier because every man has to look out for himself.
Verbal Irony: Mr. Lies
Mr. Lies tells Harper she cannot simply be pregnant in her hallucination and that she ought to "Respect the delicate ecology of your delusions" (107). He is being slightly ironic here as a delusion should theoretically be completely malleable, but his tone and his words serve to undercut the seriousness of what Harper is experiencing.
