Romanticized Nostalgia
In one scene, Burdmoore cockily acknowledges the history of violence he has committed yet brushes it off as nostalgia. The irony lies in how Burdmoore regards the heavy weaponry and violence with a nostalgic fondness as though reminiscing about a childhood toy. This casual attitude toward violence contrasts with the expected moral gravity one would associate with his past actions. Furthermore, the protest environment he is involved in becomes farcical in comparison to the life-threatening gravity of these weapons. Kushner uses this irony to reflect on the disillusionment with political and revolutionary movements.
Friendship and Temporary Bonds
Another ironic instance is the narrator's reflection on her temporary friendship with Vito. She notes that “no friendship, no contract of sympathy or trust with other people, comes with a guarantee of permanence.” This irony stems from how connected and humorous their interactions are, yet the foregone conclusion that these ties will dissolve without much consequence. Vito's acknowledgment of Italy's bland culinary offerings and their witty banter form a superficial closeness. Despite the warmth in their interactions, the narrator coldly recognizes its impermanence.
Cynicism in Academia
A moment of irony comes from the narrator’s scornful reflection on her days as a graduate student. She recalls how some women in her department used scare quotes as a performative critique without genuine understanding: “Listening to them prattle on and bend their fingers to air quote, a craven substitution of cynicism for knowledge.” The women use scare quotes to signify intellectualism, but the narrator sees this as a hollow performance devoid of true intellectual rigor. This scene drips with irony as the narrator herself recognizes the superficiality of her former academic world. Kushner portrays this irony as a critique of how modern intellectual environments prioritize appearance and conformity over meaningful engagement.
Political Passion vs. 4 a.m. Reality
The novel explores the irony between people's daytime political passion and their 4 a.m. selves when stripped of external pressures. This contrast between public personas and private truths underlines the irony that in their private moments their beliefs fall away. The irony comments on the performative nature of modern politics. Many characters in the book adopt radical political stances but beneath these performances lies a hollow or uncertain core. The tension between the public face and private reality illustrates the narrative’s critique of political movements that lack true conviction or depth.
Environmental Activism and Hypocrisy
Bruno Lacombe is presented as a staunch opponent of industrial civilization and a champion of a return to primitive lifestyles. He criticizes modern man for destroying the planet and idealizes the Neanderthals as an embodiment of a simpler way of life. However, there is a deep irony in Bruno’s use of modern technology to communicate these ideas, especially in his fumbling attempts with email. Despite his disdain for modern civilization, Bruno uses its tools to further his message, inadvertently relying on the very system he claims to reject. It accentuates the tension between Bruno’s idealistic anti-civilization stance and the reality of his dependence on the modern world.
