Gregory’s Wreckage
“I am wrecked” Gregory observes of himself after instantly falling in love with Hermione at first sight. The stage is thus set for the grandly romantic story about his pursuit and winning the love of Hermione. Ironically, however, that bolt from the blue pointing to the one Gregory describes as “the one” is maybe not so much that, after all.
Paraprosdokian
Paraprosdokian is a literary term to describe the use of a certain type of irony in which the second half a thought subverts the first with the unexpected. A classic example is Homer Simpson’s “If I could just say a few words...I’d be a better public speaker.” The same ironic sensibility is expressed in this very Oscar Wilde-esque assertion by Anthony:
“I simply refuse to deal with idiots...It has cut my social obligations in half.”
Sexist Irony
Much ironic distance separates the sexes. Men see women one day and women seen men another. Where the twain meets may give us a warm and fuzzy feeling, but it is in the chasm that we find the funny:
“What did one say when a gentleman confessed to a shortcoming? She couldn’t recall ever hearing one do so before, but surely, sometime in the course of history, some gentleman had.”
Love, Exciting and New
Of course, it goes without saying that being in love means being in one of the greatest states of irony man has ever invented. Everyone is seeking love, but once they find it most sure do spend a lot of their time being miserable. Lucy seems to understand this in the understanding expresses the true state of love’s irony:
“She didn’t want misery. She didn’t want despair. And if that meant she also had to forsake bliss and rapture, so be it.”
Other Than That, She’s a Catch
Lucy is very special. One would have to be special to outshine the glorious light of Hermione. But that doesn’t mean she’s perfect. Gregory’s admission of this comes with an almost shocking jolt of ironic humor:
“He would bet his last penny that Lady Lucinda could not lie to save her life. She was sunny and open and most definitely not mysterious. She had meant well, of that much he was certain.
But her advice had been excremental.”
