Dramatic Irony: Structure
By telling us how the book ends before it begins, the novel utilizes irony. With almost everything that transpires, the reader knows that eventually, Munira, Wanja, Karega, and Abdulla will be hauled into the police station to account for their putative role in a sensational triple murder. Furthermore, Ngugi uses irony throughout the narrative in terms of alluding to future events, which allows the reader to know things that the characters do not. This strategy makes for a disconcerting reading experience.
Dramatic Irony: The Authorities
The villagers think that some of their suffering from the drought would be alleviated if they could only speak with the authorities. They say: "We should let those in authority know. Maybe if they knew...Yes, yes, maybe if they knew of our plight they would not be sending men only to collect taxes and others to demand money for organisations the villages know nothing about" (115). The reader understands that the authorities certainly must know what is going on and that they probably care little. The villagers' hopefulness is, then, an example of dramatic irony because we can see that they are foolhardy in their trust of the "authorities" to help them.
Verbal and Situational Irony: Clergymen
The journeying villagers expect some help from the clergymen of the city, but they find little. Abdulla remarks bitterly about one of them: "He recited the words. 'They are hungry and thirsty, those who have not eaten the loaf of Jesus. Do you know the Reverend holy bastard could only offer us the food of the spirit, the bread and fish of Jesus?'" (149.) He cannot keep the irony out of his tone, for he finds it absurd that a religious man would not be able to offer starving people standing right in front of him some succor. This is also situational irony, for one might expect religious people to be the most selfless and helpful to weary, poor travelers.
Verbal Irony: Nderi
An MP is supposed to be responsive to the people he represents, but Nderii is far from that. Indeed, the narrator cannot help but describe him thusly: "His area was so remote from the city that he was hardly ever troubled by endless complaints from his constituents. A happy contented lot your people are, they would tell him, and he would receive the compliment with a beaming smile" (175). The narrator uses verbal irony here, depicting Nderi as a pompous and proud politician, mistaking his constituents' remoteness for their contentment, and happily accepting others' praise for doing a good job.
