The irony of Learning Language
It is ironic for the settlers to detain natives to learn local language from them. Gilbert orders settlers to force natives to teach them Cadigal language. For instance, Gardiner explains to Rooke how Gilbert ordered him to capture two native men to learn local language. Forcing natives to teach settlers local language is ironic. Instead of soldiers doing their duty, they are compelling natives to teach them local language. Such an activity is ironic because soldiers should concentrate on what brought them to New South Wales.
Irony of Snitching
It is ironic for Worogan, Tugear, and Tagaran to report a soldier who beat Tugear to Rooke. Rooke is just a mere soldier and has no powers over other soldiers. Snitching on a soldier to a fellow soldier is sardonic. Rooke cannot stand up for them. In point of fact, he is supposed to defend a fellow soldier. Therefore, reporting a soldier to a soldier is ironic. Rooke’s action to inform the villagers about retaliatory mission to capture Carangary, a man who speared Brudgen, a convict who carries a firearm, is ironic. As a soldier, Rookie is not supposed to snitch on other soldiers. Ironically, he informs the villagers about the impending mission to capture Carangary.
Irony of Reminiscence
For Rookie to think about Tagaran fifty years later is ironic. Reminiscing about a young girl whom he saw over many years ago is sarcastic. Ironically, Tagaran is not reminiscing about him. Rooke seems to have been living in denial and refusing to let go of the past. It is not reasonable to get obsessed about a person whom you saw over fifty years. Such an obsession is ironic.
