Irony of Escape
The irony in the story "Big World" centers around the aspirations of two high school graduates who want to leave their little town and go on a huge adventure. The title, "Big World," alludes to the breadth of possibilities and the excitement that awaits them outside the constraints of their existing lives. The irony becomes clear as the story progresses. Despite their hopes of escaping away, the two heroes are bound in their situations due to inadequate money and failed tests. Their plan to buy a van and leave town is thwarted and instead of beginning on an exhilarating journey, they are met with disappointment and a brutal reality check. The irony lies in the stark contrast between their aspirations for a big world and the limitations imposed upon them by their circumstances, highlighting the gap between their dreams and the actuality they encounter.
Irony of Reunion
The irony in Bob's brief reappearance as Vic Lang's long-lost father is fraught with emotional weight and surprising twists. Vic's dying mother demands that he find Bob and return him home after years of absence and abandonment. Bob appears briefly in the story "Reunion," providing a ray of hope for reconciliation and closure. The irony, though, lies in his brief comeback. Bob, unfortunately, slips into an open mineshaft only two weeks after his arrival, culminating in his untimely death. The juxtaposition of his brief return home with his abrupt and untimely accident heightens the irony. It underscores the sad irony that, just as the Lang family sees a glimmer of hope, it is cruelly snatched away leaving them to grapple with the unresolved emotions and shattered hopes.
The title of the story "Abbreviation"
At first look, the term "abbreviation" suggests conciseness. In the context of the story, however, this term becomes contradictory and laced with irony. The story progresses to depict a touching and lengthy sexual experience between the protagonist, Vic Lang, and a young woman who sadly lost her finger in a farming accident. Rather than the predicted brevity, the story develops into a lengthy investigation of their interaction, breaking the initial assumption of a brief contact. The irony is in the juxtaposition of the title's idea of shortness with the reality of a meaningful, emotionally intense, and protracted meeting that defies the usual definition of an abbreviation.
Irony of Corruption
The irony resides in the contrast between the readers' understanding of Angelus' depravity and Vic Lang's lack of awareness. Readers learn about the town's slow downfall, the prevalence of police corruption, and the societal issues that exist in the community. They see the breakdown of Vic's father, Bob who becomes aloof and begins drinking as a result of the corrupt environment in which he works as a police officer. Vic, on the other hand, is completely unaware of the exact source of his father's actions and the underlying difficulties afflicting Angelus. This dramatic irony heightens the reader's sense of expectation and irritation as they follow Vic through his adolescence and adulthood unknowingly touched by the rot and decay that surrounds him. The irony lies in the readers’ ability to perceive the destructive forces at play while Vic remains trapped in a state of anxiety and uncertainty, never fully understanding the true nature of his surroundings.
