Hirst bringing a stranger home
Hirst bringing a stranger to his home is ironic because it subverts readers’ expectations. Hirst depicts a paradoxical trait when he goes to the pub, meets a stranger, takes drinks together, and finally brings him home to continue drinking with him. Friendship is a process that takes time to develop, but the pace at which Hirst makes friends is illogical. Bringing a stranger home can turn out catastrophic, but Hirst does not care, which raises the question of his security. Hirst is a wealthy writer, and anybody can take advantage of his weakness to cause him harm.
Spooner’s obscurity
Spooner’s decision of maintaining obscurity is ironic because he contradicts Briggs, Foster, and Hirst’s expectations. They want him to be open and disclose critical information about himself. When Hirst tries to inquire who he is at the pub, Spooner only introduces himself as a poet after realizing that Hirst is a famous writer. When Spooner gets to Hirst's residence, both Briggs and Foster question him about his identity, but he remains silent. Therefore, Spooner's intentions remain ominous, and he should not be allowed to stay alone in the house.
Foster’s excuse of living with Hirst
Foster’s excuse of living with Hirst is ironic because it subverts the host’s expectations. According to Hirst, Foster is his student. However, when Foster gets drunk, he openly says he is living with Hirst by choice because his primary goal is to get associated with a wealthy and famous writer, but not to learn poetry.
