The Freedom of Choice (Situational Irony)
Gene Westover is skeptical of the federal government because he desires individuality and personal freedom. Although these philosophies guide his extremist beliefs, his practices, ironically, restrict those very freedoms. The Westover children are not allowed to go to school, participate in certain activities, or go to the doctor if they are feeling sick. Ultimately, Gene does not grant his children the same sense of freedom that he himself desires.
"Herbs are supplements" (Verbal Irony)
Tara recalls a time when Faye discusses the appropriate use of herbal medicine. Faye tells Tara that "herbs are supplements. For something serious, you should go to a doctor." This is an example of verbal irony, as Faye and Gene teach their children that modern medicine is evil, and Faye means the opposite of what her words say. Instead of visiting doctors, the Westover children are given herbal remedies and balms concocted by Faye. On a few different occasions, the family's reliance on herbalism is detrimental. Both Shawn and Faye sustain devastating brain injuries as a result of not receiving formal medical care. Later in the story, after Gene survives his terrible accident in the scrapyard, the family is able to create an "herbal business empire" by proclaiming that herbs are not supplemental, but rather essential.
Victimizing Shawn (Dramatic Irony)
Throughout the memoir, the reader is painfully aware of Shawn's violent behavior towards women. However, when Tara confronts her parents to notify them of her abusive experiences with Shawn, she is blamed for "inciting conflict." Shawn is depicted as the victim, and his misogynistic attitudes are excused. Tara's parents refuse to examine Shawn's behavior, leading them to have a view of him which Tara, and the reader, know to be false. This process is disheartening and frustrating for Tara. Due to her parents' denial of Shawn's abuse, Tara becomes estranged from her family.
Tara's Childhood Influenced her Academic Success (Situational Irony)
When Tara is first exposed to books, professors, and institutions of higher learning, she turns her back on Buck's Peak and criticizes her "uneducated" childhood. However, while completing her MPhil and later her PhD at Cambridge, Tara begins to uncover how her upbringing ironically helped her become an accomplished scholar. Gene's distrust of institutions prompts Tara to approach literature and texts with a skeptical analysis. This practice allows Tara to think more deeply about how certain works have come to be revered so highly in the Western academic canon. Furthermore, Tara was able to identify historical flaws in her research. Additionally, it is important to remember that Tara first learned how to read by studying scripture. Reading the bible allowed Tara to develop the skill of parsing and understanding dense texts before drawing her own conclusions.
