Tom Helping William
On the surface level, Tom is the one helping Willie by opening his home to him, as well as by creating a loving childhood atmosphere that he has never known before. Tom gives Willie confidence, encourages him to try new things, and gets him involved with activities in the community. Yet, ironically, Willie is also doing all of this for Tom. He brings Tom the incentive to re-integrate himself back into the social life of the village, inspiring him to come out of his hermitage and do things that are out of his comfort zone, such as go into the paint shop and play the organ for the holiday choir.
Mrs. Beech's View of Evil
William's mother is a "Bible thumper" who believes that the world is a dangerous place and that sin is everywhere; smiling, dogs, reading stories, and having friends are all markers of evil. This is ironic because the very evil that Mrs. Beech fears is something she acts out more than any other character in the book. In a deluded way, she justifies her emotional and physical abuse of her children as a way to protect them from evil, when actually, she is perpetuating that evil.
Waking Up Dead
Charlie Ruddles, Weirwold's appointed warden, is always reminding people to follow wartime safety measures, such as carrying gas masks and putting up blackouts, to the point of becoming comical. In one moment, he scolds Tom and Willie, telling them that one day they will wake up and find they have been "gassed to death." This is ironic because it is impossible to wake up dead.
Mrs. Beech's Suicide
Usually a parent taking their own life would be an immense source of tragedy for their young child, but Willie's mother's suicide is actually somewhat of a blessing for him, as he is finally free from the threat of her abuse. Her death also means that he can now be adopted by Mr. Tom. It is through her suicide that Willie is able to stop being terrified of being sent back to the city and can instead peacefully settle into life in Little Weirwold.
Dangers in London
Throughout the novel, children are being evacuated from London because of the perceived danger coming from outside forces, in the form of the German Air Force who are carrying out bombing raids. Yet, ironically the greatest threat to Willie's safety in London does not come from the Nazi fighters but from the insane and abusive behavior of his own mother.
