The Irony of Esther's Profession
Esther becomes a prostitute because she has nobody else to support her and no true means of supporting herself besides. She doesn't like her work, but neither does she believe she's doing wrong. It's interesting that Chanda has such a problem with Esther's choice, considering her own sexual abuse at the hand of Issac. If anyone is positioned to empathize with Esther, it should be Chanda because of her experience with trauma and sexual abuse. Perhaps unable to cope with the memories, she has become judgmental in order to protect and insulate her emotions.
The Irony of Jonah's Marriage Proposal
Jonah is the only lover after her first husband who proposes to Lillian. In fact, he's quite insistent about his proposal; he really wants to marry her, but she refuses. Lillian is determined to protect her family however necessary and, after several failed relationships, she's developed some commitment issues. Jonah seems like a fool and a traitor later in the book for having so earnestly sought marriage because he's the one who gives up on the relationship -- and life -- in the end. After trouble strikes the family, he resorts to drinking rather than dealing with his problems. Eventually he pays Lillian the ultimate disservice of leaving her alone to handle everything when he commits suicide.
The Irony of Sara's Birth
A birth is supposed to mark a fortunate, exciting time. When a child is born, it typically brings with it loads of hope and encouragement. Unfortunately for Chanda's family, her baby sister Sara is the harbinger of tragedy. Everything goes downhill after Sara's birth -- miscarriages, illness, unemployment, conflict, etc. What should've been the happiest moment for the couple soon became their omen of ill fortune.
The Irony of Mrs. Tafa's Matchmaking
Mrs. Tafa is a compassionate woman who really cares about Chanda and her family. After Mr. Dube's untimely death, she is broken up to see how his loss destroys Lillian. She can't bear to witness the grieving process, so she sets Lillian up with Jonah. Trying to help, she unwittingly seals Lillian's greatest trial yet. Lillian is not ready to enter into a new relationship, so she doesn't give Jonah what he needs nor in fact have her own needs fulfilled because he is unprepared to help her with her grief. Their rushed beginning is too much to come back from and soon spells disaster for the entire family. What Mrs. Tafa intended as a blessing culminates in yet another awful disappointment.
The Irony of Lillian's Death
When Chanda sends her mom to Tiro for medical care, she is convinced that her mom will recover. She's doing everything in her power to help her mother. After months of treatment she expects Lillian to be faring better, if not on her way to full recovery by the time she visits. She's shocked to see her mom having wasted away during her absence. Of course Lillian has an explanation -- AIDS, -- but it does not account for the dissonance of Chanda's expectations for the visit.
