The Irony of Generational Abuse
Sunday Oke is an unkind man and an abusive father. He attacks Elvis at every turn, physically and emtionally, making his life in Lagos absolutely miserable. Sunday is also, however, the victim of his own father's abuse. Although his background is not fully laid out for the reader, he is obviously a damaged man. In order to find peace, Elvis has to recognize that his dad is also a victim, despite how cruelly he behaves.
The Irony of Redemption's Work
Redemption offers Elvis the chance to earn some money and support himself, but it comes at the cost of moral goodness. Redemption is a criminal, and Elvis becomes one alongside his friend. In order to survive, Elvis accepts the compromise of illegality, but eventually he can't accept the damage to his conscience anymore. Elvis decides to rough it on his own rather than continue to participate in crime, realizing that some mental convictions mean more than physical hunger.
The Irony of Beatrice's Death
Beatrice takes Elvis away from Sunday, who had no intentions of being an active father anyway. She raises Elvis in a poor but loving home, but she becomes ill. Despite her love, she is unable to protect Elvis from her own death. Just as they are beginning to enjoy the fruits of Beatrice's sacrifice in their family, she dies. Another layer of irony is added by the fact that Elvis must return to Lagos to live with his father after all.
The Irony of Redemption's Passport
At the end of the book, Redemption gives Elvis his own passport and tells him to use it to leave the country. He offers Elvis a physical redemption in the form of establishing a new life elswhere, someplace with more economic opportunity, but his name is still on the passport. Elvis begins his new life bearing the name of his friend, Redemption -- both the act and the person. This literalization of the action of redemption is ironic in this context.
The Irony of Elvis' Occupation
Based upon his name, Elvis Oke decides to make money as an Elvis impersonator. He sees the name and then decides the occupation. Ironically, he take initiative to fulfill his perception of destiny. One might expect a kid named Elvis to resent the stereotype, but Elvis Oke leans into the association for his mother's sake.
