Sophie's Position in the Family
Sophie feels as though there is no point in her seeking her fortune or trying to find a handsome man to marry because she is the eldest daughter and therefore totally without prospects. This turns out to be ironic as not only do her actions save Percival, Prince Justin and Wizard Suliman but she also manages to make Howl Fall in love with her and stay in love with her, which is something that not even her sisters have managed to do.
Sophie's Curse
Sophie spends a long time thinking up reasons for why the Witch hates her enough to make her an old woman. She concludes that it is because her hats are so pretty that they make all of the ladies wearing them more attractive than the Witch. which makes the Witch jealous. Ironically the Witch did not hate Sophie at all, and actually meant the curse for her beautiful sister Lettie.
Sophie's Opinion of the Practitioners of Magic
Sophie does not think very highly of any of the practitioners of magic, nor their teachers. Ironically she has the gift for magic and has been enchanting things, including her hats and her walking stick, without even knowing it.
Lettie and Martha Changing Placea
Lettie and Martha don't like the apprenticeships they have been given, but rather than just voicing this they set a simple spell that allows them to switch identities and each end up with the position they find more appealing. They believe nobody will realize this which is ironic since they assume their beginner spell will fool the experienced witches who are teaching them and who can of course recognize the result of a spell when they see one.
Howl Being A Coward
Howl is a slitherer-away and slithers away every time there is something frightening to do because he is a self-confessed coward. However he is also intent upon doing the right thing and lies to himself that he is not searching for Prince Justin because if he admits he is searching for him then he will get too frightened to continue. This is ironic because even though he is pretending not to search for the Prince and calls himself a coward he is in fact working very hard and putting himself in danger to save others which makes him very brace and not a coward at all.
Calcifer's Contract
Calcifer cannot wait to gain his freedom, but returns very shortly to the castle; ironically, as soon as he is not contractually obliged to be there it is actually where he wants to be the most.
