The irony of patriarchy
The narrative is delivered through male narrators for the most part and thus takes on a patriarchal perception of the events. McCandless claims in his accounts that his marriage to Bella was different from what the public may perceive. Ironically, Bella as the female voice in the latter part of the book offers her take and perception refuting her husband’s ‘truth’. Furthermore, Baxter creates Bella to fit into an ideal woman for the man but ironically becomes a strong and educated feminist. The attempts of the men to assert their misogynistic intentions are counteracted by the changing social dynamic.
The irony of authenticity
The narrative intended to first offer Archibald’s autobiography about his marriage then Bella’s version of events. In order to mock the social dynamic of Victorianism, it allows the man’s word to be delivered initially as the fact. Thus, as soon as the wife denies the claims the public does not believe her even though she is right. Bella is a renowned feminist in the public eye but ironically the public denies her truth that seems out rightly authentic.
Unreliable narrators
The accounts in the narrative are offered by multiple perspectives and narrators. The author Gray has also written a version of himself in the story as the editor Gray. They assert their authority in the story by acknowledging their validity. Ironically their authority is often compromised or undermined by another narrator or the author. Editor Gray authenticates the validity of Archibald’s memoir initially but is undermined by Bella and the author Gray.
Bella marries Archibald
Godwin’s scientific creation was meant to cater to his need for a perfect partner with the ideal qualities. Godwin gives Bella his own name intending to make her his spouse. Ironically, Bella ends up falling in love with his friend Archibald instead and eventually get married.
Plagiarized memoir
Eventually, Bella affirms her version of events to discredit their marriage dynamic that was written in the memoir. However she proceeds further to criticize the autobiography as plagiarized work from the literary works of the era. She asserts her husband concocted a memoir from the Victorian fantasy works rather than write the facts of his life. The memoir has not only altered the version of events but also plagiarized; hence, it is not an autobiography.
