“Fish can Sing”
Adiga writes, “The city (Batticaloa). The city is famous for its lagoon, where extraordinary things can happen. The fish here can sing: true. Absolutely true. Place a reed to your ear, lean down from your paddleboat, and you will hear the music of the fish of the lagoon.” Fish are ironically personified when they are given the capacity to sing. The singing fish contribute to the city’s magnificence and heavenly ambiance where fish are endowed with singing voices.
“You’re a perfectionist”
The woman asserts, “You’re a perfectionist.” Later she adds, “Although she certainly appeared to be going away, the woman suddenly changed her mind and turned back to shout: “That’s irony, mate. What I just said about you being a perfectionist.” The woman’s remark about Danny’s perfection is ironic. She uses the ironic remark to underscore weirdness of Danny’s eating style. He eats in a way that is non-Australian to the degree that it catches the woman’s attention.
The Irony of Face masks
Adiga writes, “Danny tapped on his singlet. He coughed. One more rule: Never wear a face mask, like many Chinese freelancers do-it scares the customers. Dust? Grime? inhale, inhale.” The masks are safety gadgets which would ensure that the cleaner does not inhale dangerous substances. Accordingly, the masks would not be projected to terrify customers. The ironic effect of the masks on customers depicts the aversion for masks in Australia.
The Irony of Books
Adiga describes, “He (Danny) picked up a wine-colored leather volume from the lawyer’s bookshelf: The Reliance of the Traveller: A Guide to Islamic Law. Don’t they ever read books about Hindu law? White people. Obsessed with Muslims. Because they’re frightened of them.” The whites would be projected to avoid books relating to Muslims because they are terrified of them. However, they read books regarding Islam, perhaps, to justify their irrational fear of the Muslims by pointing out terrifying ideas that would be included in the Islamic books.
The Irony of the "Man in Melbourne"
Adiga reports, “Last week this man in Melbourne, this Jaffna man, covered himself in petrol and lit himself with a match when they wouldn’t give him refugee status.” The man’s resolution to set himself ablaze is ironic for it is not an option for him to secure the status. He hurts himself when receiving the status is beyond him. The ironic self-destruction depicts the man’s desperation for the refugee status: missing it is same as dying.
