The Irony of Ransom's Qualifications
Ransom is, by his own admission, hardly more qualified than any other man to do the personal, world-saving bidding of Maleldil. His very mortality ensures the finitude of his mind and body, so it seems like such an important task is too much for him. On the contrary, however, he executes it perfectly despite his limitations, saving the planet of Perelandra. The irony of his seeming unsuitability for the task is a Biblical one; in the stories, God routinely calls the most unlikely people to do the most amazing things.
The Irony of Perfect Knowledge
The two rational inhabitants of Perelandra, known as the Queen (Tinidril) and King, are perfectly sinless, as their world has not yet been corrupted by evil. Their knowledge, though, is limited, especially of such things as Earthlings find obvious because of their fallen nature, such as peace, war, and anything different than the current state of affairs on the planet. This ignorant contentedness is presented as an ideal, in opposition to the human tendency to believe that omniscience is an end of human existence.
The Irony of Weston's Spirituality
After the events of Out of the Silent Planet, Weston began to rethink his position toward spiritual beings. He acknowledged their existence and began to devote himself to what he called the "Force" behind all life, incorporating both God and the Devil. This misinformed theology caused his acceptance of spiritual belief, seemingly a good thing, to turn him into a warped, possessed simulacrum of a human, a demon in human form.
The Irony of Ransom's Return Condition
When Ransom returns from Perelandra, Lewis and Humphrey notice that he looks markedly healthier, almost supernaturally so: his skin is healthy and bronzed, and his muscle is significantly more toned. Ironically, though, he has also suffered what seems to be a permanent injury: a continually bleeding wound on his heel.
The Irony of Ransom and Tinidril
When Ransom meets Tinidril, his intention is to teach her about the ways of goodness and the avoidance of temptation. Ironically, however, despite her extreme youth and naïveté, she is the one who ends up teaching Ransom, informing him about such universal and obvious truths as Maleldil's sacrifice and the natural harmony of all living creatures.
