Percy’s Passivity (Situational Irony)
Percy loves exercising his power as a guard. He finds excuses to exert violence and relishes proving his strength. Percy is constantly playing with his baton and practicing drawing it quickly. When Wharton attacks Dean, it is the perfect chance for Percy to use violence to subdue and punish an inmate. Surprisingly, Percy does nothing. Instead, he freezes, watching uselessly as Wharton nearly kills Dean.
Delacroix's Concern For Mr. Jingles (Verbal Irony)
Delacroix is extremely worried about what will happen to his pet mouse Mr. Jingles after his execution. He talks through numerous options with Paul, discarding all of them as not good enough. When Paul suggests that Mr. Jingles could become a child’s pet, Delacroix turns pale with horror. “Delacroix, who had roasted six human beings alive in an effort to cover up his original crime, shuddered with the delicate revulsion of an ardent anti-vivisectionist.” Paul finds Delacroix’s level of concern for Mr. Jingles ironic given the lack of remorse he feels for killing seven people.
Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix (Dramatic Irony)
From the beginning of the novel, King foreshadows Delacroix's death. He drops hints and lets it be known that Percy does something unspeakable that makes an already horrible death, execution by electric chair, even worse. The reader knows something will go wrong during Delacroix’s execution and they know Percy will be involved. Delacroix and other guards, however, do not. Paul’s decision to let Percy oversee the execution will end up being a mistake. The reader knows but Paul does not.
Toot-Toot’s Snack Cart (Verbal Irony)
When Toot-Toot arrives at E block to sell his snacks, Paul describes his wagon, “which was covered with handlettered Bible quotes ("REPENT for the LORD shall judge his people," Deut. 32:36, "And surely your BLOOD of your lives will I require," Gen. 9:5.) Rather than directly acknowledging that these quotes are supposed to spread fear, Paul uses irony and calls them “cheery, uplifting sentiments.”
