The Irony of ‘Frozen Land’
Kropotkin affirms, “Siberia is not the frozen land buried in snow and peopled with exiles only, that it is imagined to be, even by many Russians. In its southern parts it is as rich in natural productions as are the southern parts of Canada, which it resembles so much in its physical aspects and beside half a million of natives, it has a population of more than four million of Russians." Supposing that Siberia is frozen is sardonic based on Kropotkin's encounters. The Russians hold unreal assumptions regarding Siberia. If Siberia were undeniably icy, it would not retain resources which are analogous to Canada's. Had Kropotkin not expansively explored Siberia, he would have artlessly held to the conception vis-à-vis Siberia's ice-covered landscape.
The Irony of “Girls…were not prepared to follow university lectures”
Kropotkin recounts, “Since the government had shown its determined intention not to admit women to the existing universities, they had directed all their efforts toward opening universities of their own. They were told at the ministry of education that the girls who had passed through the girls’ gymnasia (the high schools) were not prepared to follow university lectures.” The government's assertion is a prejudiced tactic envisioned to repudiate girls' prospects of advanced education on the basis of their perceived inferiority.
However, the girls validate that they are primed for advanced education: "Then they started private courses and drawing-room lectures in all parts of St. Petersburg." Had the girls been unprepared, they would not have embraced the 'private courses.' The females' involvement in the science excursions debunks the government's argument about their unpreparedness. The girls strive for advanced education without relenting for they recognize the materiality of being sufficiently educated. They convey a resilient feminist spirit that appeals to professors.
The Irony of Alexander’s Kindness towards his father
Kropotkin narrates, "My father had always been unkind and most unjust toward my brother Alexander, but Alexander was utterly incapable of holding a grudge against anyone. When he entered our father's sick-room, with the deep, kind look of large blue eyes and with a smile revealing his infinite kindness, and when he immediately found out what could be done to render the sufferer more comfortable in his sickchair." Ordinarily, Alexander would have been antagonistic towards his father based on his father's manifest heartlessness towards him. However, Alexander portrays uncanny benevolence which is contributory to tumbling the tension that would have ensued between them. Alexander is honorable for he does retaliate; he adores his father unreservedly notwithstanding his father's unjustness.
The Irony of “State Discipline”
Kropotkin narrates, “I entered active life, like all young men of my time, with a great deal of confidence in the necessity of commanding, ordering, scolding, punishing, and the like…I began to appreciate the difference between acting on the principle of command and discipline and acting on the principle of common understanding. The former works admirably in a military parade, but it is worth nothing where real life is concerned, and the aim can be achieved only through the severe effort of many converging wills.” Kropotkin’s background in a ‘serf-owner’s’ household conditioned him to believe in strict discipline. However, while at Siberia, he realizes that the discipline is ineffective in “real life.” Dealing with ordinary people as military officers through extreme disciplinary measures would not be effective as it would elicit resistance. Consequently, Kropotkin’s realization regarding the irony of commanding elicits his endorsement of anarchism.
