The irony of the alienation
It is ironic that Ernie is ostracized by his family for turning his brother in for murder, as Ernie was simply doing the right thing in reporting the crime. Ernie is an upstanding member of society, trying to do the right thing, yet his family is shunning him for it and making him feel guilty for it. His loyalty to the law and justice has cost him the acceptance of his family and many of his relationships. It is a sad but true irony that doing the right thing has caused Ernie to be so harshly judged and outcast by his own.
The irony of the murderer's reveal
It is ironic that the murderer is being revealed in a methodical, organized way because the story itself is full of suspense and mystery. The anticipation of who the murderer is and the tension that builds throughout the story is heightened by the fact that the climax of the story is not a dramatic one. Instead, the murderer is slowly and methodically revealed in a step-by-step process that leads to the big reveal. This unexpected approach to revealing the murderer adds an unexpected twist to the story which further heightens the suspense and mystery.
The irony of the dead man
It is ironic that a dead man is found in the snow, yet there are no signs of melting snow or burn marks, as the man was killed by fire. This is a contradiction that heightens the mystery and intrigues readers, as it requires an explanation and further investigation. It also adds an element of surprise and suspense to the story and suggests that the murderer is highly intelligent and able to commit the crime without leaving any evidence.
