Primitive society
From the way the society is described in the beginning of the beginning of the story, one would be inclined to believe that the story takes place in the past, before any technological advancement. The truth however is far from that and ironically, the action takes place in a distant future, after society destroyed itself.
Not the strongest
The author leaves the impression that the priests were considered the wisest and strongest in the post-apocalyptic society. Ironically however, the ones who ended up being priests were not the ones who were the strongest in society but rather the ones who were born in the right family and the ones who were not afraid to touch the metal that was considered as being poison.
Not that way
John and his father both mention a few times the idea that it if forbidden to go east. For an unknown reason, everyone agreed with the rule and they refused to travel in that direction, thinking that it is a sin. When john expresses his desire to go and search for knowledge, his father warns him that he must not travel east as it is forbidden. Ironically however, as John stays and waits for signs telling him in which direction to go, every sign pointed towards east and so John had to travel there as well, despite knowing that it is against their laws.
Safest path
When John goes east, he stays away from the main roads, the roads built out of concrete and stone and choses to travel instead through the forest. The reason why he chooses that path is because it was believed that the forest was safer than the main road and thus the travelers kept themselves away from them. Ironically, the forests were not safer because the Forest People were living inside those forests and they represented a danger for John as he could have been attacked at any moment.
Saved by it
The Hill People seem to be terrified of metal. In fact, they are so scared of it that they believe that only those who have a blessing from the Gods and who are priests can touch it without being killed. Ironically however, John was saved by a piece of metal that had fallen into the river and this proves that the people’s superstitions were just that, superstitions that were unfounded by actual fact.
