Irony of the Training Exercise
While learning how to parachute correctly, Philip does a training jump at the training facility. Despite this only being a practice jump, one of his fellow trainees forgets to pull the reserve chute and dies on impact, a tragically ironic end; he hadn't even gotten to fight in the war.
Irony of the Bicycle
When Philip goes to visit his father, Guy, his father tries to give him a gift: a folding bicycle, so Philip will always have some means of transportation. This gift suits his father, as he is always ready to move on and leave people behind. Ironically, his father gets tangled up in the bicycle, indicating that his nonstop life changes have caught up to him and placed him in a predicament. Philip merely walks away, mirroring his father's walking out on him years earlier.
Irony of Hubbard
Hubbard, one of the men in Philip's barracks squad, is an ironic character; he is in the army, but he dislikes everything about the army and what it stands for, and he is completely averse to killing another human being. Understandably, he deserts before being stationed in Vietnam.
Irony of the Blanket Party
The term "blanket party" sounds like a fun, relaxing event after a hard day of work. This name is actually heavily ironic; this "party" consists of covering a person with a blanket and beating them up without mercy. Hubbard is disgusted by this idea, but Philip goes along with it, speaking to the nature of both of their characters.
Irony of Philip's Marriage
Philip is an emotionally detached man; throughout the novel, he exhibits no joy, passion, or excitement for anything. He doesn't seem like the kind of man who would get married, but by the end of the novel, he is married and settled down; in his own words, "a good neighbor," which is an unexpected end for such a strange character.
