Dramatic irony - Miss Cynthie discovering the truth about David’s profession
Miss Cynthie came to visit her grandson in New York expecting him to be a doctor, or a similar respected profession. From the start, with David’s introduction, it is clear that David's profession is something Miss Cynthie doesn’t expect. This is further confirmed in the conversation with Ruth, who urges him to tell his grandmother the truth. The reader is aware of the fact that Miss Cynthie will soon be faced with a surprising, even unpleasant, truth which creates tension and makes for dramatic irony.
Verbal irony - Miss Cynthie pushing her grandson away in mock impatience
When they finally meet, David takes his grandmother in a warm embrace, to which she responds by impatiently pushing him away telling him to go away before he squeezes her soul out of her body. It is clear that this is a pretense and that Miss Cynthie is very glad to be embraced by her grandson. She doesn’t mean what she says at the moment which makes this a verbal irony.
Situational irony - the reveal of David’s profession
When it is finally revealed that David is actually a performer at the jazz club in Harlem, it comes as a surprise to both Miss Cynthie and the reader. Miss Cynthie is bewildered and disappointed. Despite it being hinted throughout that David’s profession isn’t what Miss Cynthie think it is, the revelation at the end still comes as a surprise which makes it a situational irony.
Situational irony - Miss Cynthie’s song and her change of heart
At the very end of his performance David sings his grandmother’s favorite song, which leads to her slowly changing her mind to completely accepting the situation as a harmless escape from reality instead of willingly succumbing to sin. Her sudden change of heart is in complete contrast to her appalled reaction prior to it. It is an unexpected turn of events which makes it a situational irony.
