Irony of friendship
At the beginning of the novel, Stephen and Rene are friends, and we therefore might expect that they will be loyal towards one another. However, Stephen then has an affair with Isabelle, Stephen's wife. We may not have expected Stephen to betray his friend in this way.
Dramatic irony
The text begins before the war, and therefore as readers, we know what is about to happen to the characters. As Stephen and Isabella engage in an affair, we know that their romance will be interrupted by what is about to transpire.
Irony of loyalty
Rene works in the textile industry, at the time that textile dyers are starting to strike due to poor working conditions, wages and the prospect of technology replacing human workers. Rene does not employ the dyers directly, however his own workers have been influenced by the strikes. Although we might expect his wife Isabelle to support her husband over the strikers, she is seen delivering food to the families of the people on strike.
