The irony of Zora
Despite Zora being aware of the looming danger of the approaching war, she decides to remain in Sarajevo. Readers expected Zora to join her husband and other family members to seek refuge in England, but she did the contrary. Zora remained in Sarajevo and survived by a whisker because many people died. Zora ended up in an internally displaced camp.
The irony of the Declaration of Independence
Independence is expected to give people freedom, happiness and prosperity. Ironically, in Sarajevo, the Declaration of Independence brings doom, loss of lives and destruction of property. In 1992, everyone in Sarajevo looked forward to freedom, but things turned out nasty. Zora's family escaped to England for safety. Most people who remained in Sarajevo lost their property and became refugees.
The situation during the conflict
The time of conflict is when people are supposed to come together and support each other. Ironically, the situation in Sarajevo City during the war is contradictory. For instance, the neighbors who lived together happily before the war turned against each other. Zora finds herself in the worst situation because the people she valued before the conflict are now against her. Morris uses this irony in her book Black Butterflies to show readers the complexities of war.
