Rosa's identity
Rosa's identity is ironic because the novel's bildungsroman quality (coming-of-age) does not start with a weak sense of identity, but a strong one. Rosa's conviction is that her existence is a continuation of her parents' example, their thirst for justice, their willingness to be shamed and abused, and even killed for their activism. Rosa is ironic because she starts as a hero in some ways, but in other ways, she must grow into the shoes of her father and mother.
Rosa's wide rejection
Rosa never gets the palm fronds that some heroes receive, like Maccabees or Jesus Christ. In fact, Rosa is more like a rejected prophet, like Moses who tries to help his brethren Hebrews only to be insulted and rejected by them. Rosa is therefore ironic in her heroism, because instead of finding her passion late in life, she basically has always had the same passion, but she is growing toward her own potential so she can actually attain the influence it takes to make a difference.
The dramatic mother
Rosa has a mother who is basically a symbolic figure for drama and time. The pseudo-mother is dramatic because she represents the other potential outcome of Rosa's existence. If Rosa's father had stayed married to Katya, perhaps Rosa would not exist. This makes Katya an ironic figure in Rosa's life, because as Rosa spends more time in Nice, France, she begins to understand the breadth of what she does not know. The second mother represents the wide spectrum of possibilities and unmanifested potential.
The ironic test
The test of Rosa's endurance and commitment to the cause comes when one of her most beloved friends lacerates her with intimate and painful accusations. Rosa's character, her identity, her inheritance, and her worth as a human are insulted by these accusations, but Rosa does not turn hateful. This is the ironic test of her commitment to the cause, because she can either take this as an opportunity to learn from her friend's deep suffering, or she can accept a victim mentality and give up.
The murder of welfare workers
When the novel ends, the lawyer basically gets the last word. As an expert, having also represented Rosa's father in court, he knows that the government will pass the buck back to the activists, which means Rosa is beginning the denouement of her life (if she is following in the footsteps of her parents). The lawyer predicts this, but in a deeply ironic way; Rosa will be charged for participating in the uprising that left numerous white welfare workers dead, murdered by rampaging students in riots. She is considered an enemy by both sides.
