Evil and authority
An argument could be made that it is more normal to assume that the government has one's best interests in mind and wants to make a stable society. Left to one's own assumptions, this is the opinion of innocence, but this book shows the ironic truth about power and government. The government is not some sort of metaphysical panel of gods or something; it is made of real people who are prone to want power for various reasons, with any number of political philosophies at their disposal. For Spina, the government is ironically a source of great evil. By opposing the corrupt government, he plays the hero and dresses the part, costuming himself as a priest.
The priest's motivations
It is actually ironic for Spina to pretend to be a priest. If he were pretending to be a plumber or something, there would be no question of hypocrisy. He would have done what was necessary for his protection, but by inserting himself into the community as a religious authority, he goes the way of irony. His ironic choice to play the savior stands in contrast with his willingness to lie. He is powerful in a Machiavellian fashion, manipulating those whom he himself calls a foolish and impressionable public, but he hopes to use that to instill them with power.
Ignorance and justice
Spina comes up against the real extent of his will. He cannot make things happen past a certain level. He can stir a small uprising, perhaps, but he knows the public is not ready to maintain that movement or grow it. The timing is not right yet for a real revolution, but Spina yearns for change. He bemoans the ignorance of the people because he sees that if they would participate in a real political discussion with sincerity and patience, they would find a clear path toward justice. Without a movement of political awakening among the public, a change cannot occur.
Scarcity and change
The Italian government has an ironic advantage over the public in that there is a scarcity among the populace. If people cannot know where their food is coming from, they are very unlikely to pick up arms and do combat against trained soldiers. By keeping the public in a competitive and paranoid mood, the government has hindered their ability to rise up against them. The irony is that the people only think they are powerless, but Spina sees that if they would rise up anyway, they could win. It is an illusion that prevents them from feeling confident enough to take decisive action.
The irony of love
The priest is not allowed to fall in love, so he must tread lightly; the ironic effect of love in his story is that suddenly, he will have to decide for himself what he will choose. In other words, the ruse is coming to an end. Should he go the way of romance and take his new wife into a life of hiding from the authorities? Or should he abandon her, knowing the compromise that love could bring? The dramatic irony creates a thematic dilemma; he loves this person as he loves the public, and still, he is unable to easily trust her.
