Storm's Mission House (Situational Irony)
Fearing the division caused by heretical sects of Christianity, the schoolmaster, Storm, opens a mission house to invite the villagers to engage more fully with their faith. At first, Storm's idea is successful, and the village enjoys a renewed religious enthusiasm and sense of community. However, regular villagers feel encouraged to preach and testify, much to Storm's chagrin, though the others insist that participating will strengthen their faith. Storm's mission house ironically becomes a venue for arguments and division, and, though it was conceived to unite the villagers, creates an environment susceptible to Hellgum's conversion efforts. Thus, Storm's mission "unlocked the door to everything which [he] had hoped to shut out."
Elof Ersson (Situational Irony)
Karin Ingmarsson breaks off her engagement with Tims Halvor because she fears Halvor will become an alcoholic like his father. She then marries Elof Ersson, an upstanding farmer whom she predicts will be steadfast and temperate. However, after Big Ingmar's death, Elof develops alcoholism, becoming cruel during withdrawals and gambling away most of the family's wealth. This situation is ironic because, while trying to protect herself and her family from addiction, Karin chooses a partner who creates those exact problems in a very extreme manner.
The Pilgrimage (Dramatic Irony)
With the encouragement of Hellgum's letter, the Hellgumists decide to sell everything and journey to Jerusalem. They believe their efforts in "God's Holy City" will create peace and reduce poverty. However, the pilgrimage itself creates division and economic hardship for the villagers. For example, families like Gunhuild's, Gertrude's, and Hök Matts Ericsson's are divided, as some family members choose to leave for Jerusalem and others elect to stay behind. In order to fund the trip, the Hellgumuists sell their farms to an outside corporation known to displace locals and damage the environment. Thus, in their attempt to remedy the unrest in Jerusalem, the Hellgumists create similar unrest in their own community.
Gertrude's "Revenge" (Situational Irony)
After Ingmar betrays her by marrying another woman to retain ownership of his family farm, Gertrude's soul is "darkened by thoughts of revenge." She considers destroying the farm or physically injuring Ingmar. However, she experiences a religious conversion and decides to follow Hellgum, gladly abandoning her romance. Coincidentally, Gertrude discovers Ingmar's inheritance stowed away in a pillow sold at the Ingmar Farm auction. Though the money would have been sufficient to buy back the farm, allowing Gertrude and Ingmar to marry, Gertrude waits until Ingmar is married to present him with the money, destroying any chance for the two to be together. Gertrude's actions contain several layers of situational irony. First, she claims that she hopes to make Ingmar "happy" by presenting him with his lost inheritance, the absence of which has caused him immense strife. However, Ingmar is devastated, and wishes Gertrude had kept the money because knowing he could have retained the farm and married her is too much to bear. Secondly, Gertrude extends the money as an offer of reconciliation, putting her desire for revenge past her; yet, the inheritance causes Ingmar such emotional distress that it is a more exacting revenge than any other type of harm. Lastly, Gertrude's discovery of the money is ironic. Though the family believed Elof Ersson spent the money before his passing, the funds were hidden in a pillow, stowed away in Ingmar Farm for years, only to be discovered after the auction. The loss of this inheritance was the only reason Ingmar could not retain ownership of his farm, yet it was not discovered until the farm changed hands.
