The irony of technology
The residents heavily rely on logging for their livelihoods. The Stamper family is among the many people who depend on the logging industry to put food on the table. The first time the people of Oregon hear about technology, they are glad to welcome it because it will make work easier for them. Ironically, the technology makes work easier and reduces cost, but it results in a massive reduction of working hours. Therefore, employees in the logging industry are paid less because of the reduced working hours. As a result, people start demonstrating demanding increased working hours and pay.
The satire of Stamper’s philosophy
Stamper's family has a small logging company with a sizable number of employees who do not belong to labor unions. Instead of joining the workers strike in the logging industry, Stamper decides to restrain his employees from participating. Stamper's philosophy is 'Never Give an Inch,' which defines his stand on the ongoing strike. The satire of this philosophy is that Stamper wants to operate as an island, forgetting that soon technology will knock at his company, and he is likely to face a similar challenge and possible shutdown.
The stubbornness of Henry
Henry is living in a house that is about to collapse because the river around is widening. The house is just hanging on a peninsula, an indication that it is about to collapse. Ironically, the stupidity of Henry tells him that he is safe and he should never leave. The house is quickly surrounded by water from the raging river, but Henry is still stubborn, not willing to escape.
The irony of parenting
Parents have the role of ensuring that children grow up respectfully and obedient. However, Henry's parents are hateful, causing him to adopt similar behavior. For instance, Henry grows up being a stubborn person who speaks first without even thinking first. Ironically, Henry's children grow up becoming stubborn as their father. The reader at least expected Henry to raise his children differently, not abusing them the way his father did to him.
The irony of resisting change
The town of Oregon is facing change in the workforce because the employers in the working environment are quickly adopting technology. The residents, who are the employees, start strikingly arguing that they do not want change. Ironically, change is inevitable, and when it comes, people have to adapt and be innovative by creating more avenues of generating income. As it looks, the people of Oregon only want to depend on wages and increased pay without thinking outside the box by taking advantage of technology to be innovators.
