Situational irony: Flooding of Macon's house
For months, Macon has somewhat abandoned his former home. First, he breaks his leg and requires to be cared for by his sister Rose, so he moves into his old family house. Then, after meeting Muriel, he practically moves in with her and Alexander, rarely checking up on his old home. His new life with Muriel brings him a sense of freedom and adventure after living in a very dull and routine way for many months. This newness has helped him to recover from his grief somewhat, allowing him to put his old family life with Sarah and Ethan behind him.
Then, one day during a snowstorm, his brother Charles comes to Muriel's house to inform Macon that a pipe has burst in his old house. They hurry to the house to find that it has been completely flooded with water, causing much damage. Once, this might have bothered the neurotic and control-loving Macon, who had previously created various "systems" of organization for living in his house after Sarah left. Yet ironically, it hardly seems to bother Macon; rather, it is Charles who becomes upset at seeing the destruction. Macon can only focus on getting back to Muriel's house—to his new life where the loss of property and things of the past hardly registers with him.
Situational irony: Macon's profession
Something ironic throughout the story is the juxtaposition of Macon's career and his natural disposition. Macon writes travel guides for a living, which requires him to go to foreign cities and leave behind the familiar. He admits to hating traveling, but he has just settled for the profession anyway, not knowing what else to do. Macon, like all of the Leary siblings, loves his routine and having a sense of control over his life. By traveling, Macon must give up this control and comfort.
Dramatic irony: Sarah coming to Paris
When Macon has to go on a business trip to Paris, he is disturbed to find that Muriel has followed him, booking herself on the same plane and for the same hotel. They have broken up, but Muriel is trying to get Macon back, and Macon does not exactly push her away, even though he has recommitted to Sarah. Then, Macon hurts his back, and when he tells Sarah about it on the phone, she decides to come all the way to Paris to take care of him. An ironic moment then ensues because the reader is aware of Muriel's presence with Macon whereas Sarah is not. At the moment when Sarah discovers that Muriel is there, Macon must explain himself and make his final decision in regard to which woman he wishes to love.
Dramatic irony: Shopping for Alexander
Macon takes Alexander shopping for clothes one day and runs into both Mrs. Sidey, Sarah's mother, and Lauren Canfield, the mother of Ethan's former classmate. Quickly, Macon must come up for an explanation for why he is shopping for a little boy, as he has not made it known yet that he is dating another woman and he especially does not want to reveal this to Sarah's mother. When Alexander comes out of the dressing room to display his new clothes, Macon clumsily says that he finds "shopping for boys is a pleasure."
