Somerset Maugham employs irony in the story to drive his point home. Skipper returns to the island only to find out that Neilson has erected a bungalow in his compound. Before being shanghaied by whalers, Red was living in the same place Neilson is living currently. Twenty-five years later, Red has come to the island but the author refers to him as skipper. Red and Sally were deeply in love when they were young. Sarcastically, the two are unable to recognize each other when they meet at old age. It is cynical for people who were lovers to forget each other in a span of twenty-five years.
Maugham uses characters to depict the power of love as an irony to make readers get insight into how real love is rare to find. Neilson believes that Red and Sally were in real love. He had heard from the neighbors how the two loved each other. Sally has also been waiting for Red to return and her love for him has never faded. Neilson describes this kind of love as the love that Adam felt for Eve after waking up and finding she was staring at him. For the past twenty-five years, Neilson has been insecure and unhappy. However, he is shocked when he finally meets Red.
Sally never loved Neilson. Neilson is disappointed and wishes Sally could love him the way she loved Red. The sarcasm of real love is exhibited when Neilson realizes that skipper is Red. He wonders whether if that is the same man who has denied him happiness for over thirty years. Neilson is surprised how grotesque could be loved so much by somebody like Sally. In the end, he claims he was cheated.
