Irony of religious covering
The narrator describes the religious coverings that the women wear, saying that they are repressive and represent the women's seclusion. However, following this, he describes the women as imparting "grave sexuality to life." He describes being fascinated by the women and attracted to them, even though they wear the coverings in order to evade male attention.
Irony of warfare
This text is set in the 1940s and warns about Afghanistan's violent history. As readers today, we know that violence in Afghanistan actually gets worse in the years to come. As such, Michener's warnings came true.
Irony of weather
When in the desert, Mark is thirsty and struggles with the extreme heat and weather. However, a local explains that when it does rain it is torrential and is actually more destructive than helpful.
Irony of fashion
Mark describes how the people of Kabul continue to wear sandals even in the freezing weather and snow. He says that they worse "sandals which allowed toes to drag in the snow." As such, their dress is not fitting for the weather they are living in.
