Hypocrisy of the Government
Verbal irony is used to reveal the hypocrisy of the Soviet government. For example, when Demidov is investigating the murders, he is told by his superior that "the state is always right," yet Demidov comes to realize that the state is not always right and is often guilty of gross injustices.
A Good Impression
It is ironical that while guests such as Austin came from the United States, the citizens were forced to behave in a manner that suggested that life was good in the Soviet Union while it was not. At the time of Austin's visit, when he had gone to Moscow to analyze the country and government, the people came to his concert free whereas they were not usually allowed to go to concerts in the country.
Agent Leo's perception of Grigori
It is ironic that Agent Leo thought Grigori as very intelligent and the least promising. The statement is ironical because intelligence most often goes hand in hand with success. Grigori was very learned and thoughtful as he uncovered secret places where people hid their diaries, yet his mentor thought him to be a failure.
Leo
It is a dramatic irony since as Leo was trying hard to get the attention of Raisa, she did not know that he was a detective who worked for the secret police while the readers know who he is. They had met several times and he had lied about where he had gotten his coat from.
Grigori
It is a dramatic irony that when Polina met Grigori on the streets and they became friends, she did not know that he was a police officer. Grigori was investigating her at the time and had taken her diary. The irony is that readers know who he was, yet she did not.
