Irony of Self-sufficiency
Sam Gribley accomplishes a feat that many only consider and that is living off the land. Although as Sam becomes acquainted with his new life, the concept of self-sufficiency is rather relative in his case. Self-sufficiency by definition refers to the ability to provide sustenance without the help of others. Though Sam manages to gather food, set traps, and make clothes and shelter he relies on various loopholes and alternatives. For instance, before he learns to hunt he steals deer from other hunters and also relies on already poached wild animals. Furthermore, with the help of his falcon Frightful, and also Bando at some point, Sam gets some assistance to survive.
Irony of Isolation
The decision to move into the wilderness was to escape the safety and conveniences of modern life. Sam craves a self-sufficient life devoid of human interaction and only entails solitary living. Though he undertakes this endeavor and is pleased with the results, few interactions with others make him desire companionship. In isolation, he understands the significance of human connection and being part of human society.
The Guesthouse
Sam detests the life in the city where he has to live with his siblings and parents in a cramped apartment. This fosters the desire to live off the land and within the expanse of the wilderness without having to make a home. However the more he stays on the farm the more he creates a home for himself which also attracts others. With the help of Bando, he builds a guesthouse which is the first step towards creating a household. Even his family visits the new setup and lives with him expressing their desire to permanently relocate there. It is ironic that Sam escapes the trappings of the modern household and proceeds to create a home too.
The irony of modern conveniences
Though Sam reveres the outdoorsy type of living, he quickly realizes that he is unprepared for it. Sam has been accustomed to modern conveniences that every task demands the use of a tool or apparatus. He realizes he requires survival skills by reading books and has to rely on the library to acquire knowledge. Moreover, Sam finds himself in dilemmas when executing a chore or foraging in the woods as he needs household instruments.
