Irony of Racism
It is ironical that Peekay faces racist attitudes despite of being innocent and harmless. The prejudice begins in his school where he is tortured because of his white color. The educational institutions are supposed to impart humanity and unity in students but the author has demonstrated the ironical attitude of students along with teachers regarding racism. After encountering discrimination, Peekay says that “Racism does not diminish with brains, it's a disease, a sickness, it may incubate in ignorance but it doesn't necessarily disappear with the gaining of wisdom!” He realizes that racism has been ingrained in the African society and the irony is that it has become a disease which cannot be cured with education. Although all humans are equal but still they are hurting each other because of their colors which seems implausible.
Irony of Camouflage
Another irony in the book is that Peekay learns to hide his real self in his school where he is tortured because of his white color. Jaapie Botha couldn't see him succeeding in any field of his life so he uses camouflage as a shield to avoid the derogation and the obstacles. He says, "I had become an expert at camouflage. My precocity allowed me, chameleon-like, to be to each what they required me to be." A person is usually referred as Chameleon because of his changing colors and Peekay resolves to change his color according to person whom he would meet. He pretends to be the opposite of his self in front of the judge and hides his struggle from him. He strives to achieve his aims but the irony is that his aims were not based on his desires instead they were based on the death of his chicken.
Irony of Boss
Peekay was unaware of his boss at Northern Rhodesian mines and it is ironical that his biggest enemy was the person for whom he was working. Jaapie Botha hates Peekay and he was discriminated about him. His Whiteness bothers him and he kills the granpa chook with whom Peekay was so much attached. Peekay works at Rhodesian mines and he was a symbol of hope for the workers there but at the end of the novel he gets to know that he was working for the judge. Peekay fights with him and employs all the boxing techniques that he learned during his boxing career. He knocks him down and engraves his name letters P and K on his tattoo.
Irony of Religious Views
Peekay's mother dismisses his nanny who took great care of him after the mental illness of his mother. She recovered from her illness and Peekay finds him at the station in Barberton for welcoming him. His mother becomes a born again Christian and it is ironical that she dismisses the nanny because she refused to give her life for the lord. Peekay's mother tries to proselytize Peekay when he reaches Barberton but he refuses by uttering derogatory remarks about the Lord. Peekay's concept of God is also ironical because he sees God as remain busy. He says, "God is too busy making the sun come up and go down and watching so the moon floats just right in the sky to be concerned with color . . . only man wants always God should be there to condemn this one and save that one. Always it is man who wants to make heaven and hell. God is too busy training the bees to make honey and every morning opening up all the new flowers for business."
