Disloyal-“The Way Up To Heaven”
Dahl explains, "And now, lately, she had come more and more to feel that she did not really wish to live out her days in a place where she could not be near these children, and have them visit her, and take them out for walks, and buy them presents, and watch them grow. She knew, of course, that it was wrong and in a way disloyal to have thoughts like these while her husband was still alive. She knew also that although he was no longer active in his many enterprises, he would never consent to leave New York and live in Paris." Mrs. Foster's feeling of disloyalty is ironic because desiring to be close to her grandchildren is not a form of infidelity. Her grandchildren are her family; thus, she has the right to be close to them and to bestow them grandmotherly love. The ironic feelings depict the mindset which some women have regarding fidelity to their husbands, which prompts them not be love other persons in their families. The mind-set hinders them from being absolutely happy and free throughout their existence.
“She didn’t wish to see her husband”-“The Way Up To Heaven”
Dahl expounds, “Mrs. Foster didn’t quite know what to do when she heard this news. She stayed sitting on her bench for at least another half-hour, wondering, in a tired, hazy sort of way, where she might go to spend the night. She hated to leave the airport. She didn’t wish to see her husband. She was terrified that in one way or another he would eventually manage to prevent her from getting to France. She would have liked to remain just where she was, sitting on the bench the whole night through.” Mrs. Foster’s desire not to see Mr. Foster is ironic considering that they have a gratifying marriage. However, Mrs. Foster is conscious that Mr… Foster could be the greatest hindrance to her getting to Paris which connotes Heaven for her. The desire to avoid him is founded on the reality that he could deliberately delay her so she would not proceed for her journey.
The irony of the dachshund-“The Landlady”
Billy observes, "On the carpet in front of the fire, a pretty little dachshund was curled up asleep with its nose tucked into its belly." Before getting into the landlady's house, Billy concludes that the dachshund is alive. However his conclusion is ironic: Landlady utilizes the preserved pets to lure her victims. Had Billy discerned that the dachshund was preserved he would not been attracted to the house. Moreover, viewing the pet from the window gives him a wrong picture concerning its status. He discerns that it is expired after getting into the lady's house which is too late to reverse his resolution.
