The Irony of Failed Social Justice
The police, as a representation of justice, arrive on scene to arrest John in the opening scene of the play. Their inclusion in the end, as the beginning, is representative of the ironic relationship of society to justice. Rather than supporting John, the people around him have taken stances about what is and isn't acceptable to identify oneself as which further isolate John in the midst of his own insecurity and suffering. The arrival of the police is ironic because they only become involved in John's life after he has broken from reality, rather than seeing to any form of preventative justice. They don't advocate for John but against him, after he's already made himself an enemy of society.
The Irony of John's Heritage
As a half Chinese, half British man in England, John is insecure about his Chinese heritage. The foreignness of his father's culture is enough to scare John away from embracing that part of his identity. Ironic considering how much he pushes against his father's traditions and advice, John still lives well within the realms of his father's expectations. He works at his dad's restaurant, has a well-ordered financial future, and is versed in Chinese tradition.
The Irony of Tom's Breakup
Tom breaks up with John, despite enjoying their relationship, because he observes in John the same self-hatred he sees in himself. He's afraid that he'll end up as hopeless as John if he continues with their secret affair. Although Tom is struggling with insecurity and confusion in kind with John, he is determined to come out on top. He leaves John because he cares about John and refuses to watch his lover drift so far into the darkness.
The Irony of Dr. Worthing's Advice
Dr. Worthing enters John's life as a welcome advocate. He speaks against the oppressive cultural norms and encourages John to accept himself. Although John seems receptive to this line of thought, he has ingested so much homophobia from the world around him that he's now adopted those thoughts as his own. John becomes the one propagating messages of hatred to himself, so he resists all of Dr. Worthing's efforts to teach him love, despite finally receiving the acceptance and affirmation he's been longing for all these years.
The Irony of John's Despair
John's mental decline is ironic because of the timing. He's nineteen years old, just got accepted to Cambridge, and lives with a father who loves him. With so many opportunities and even advantages on his plate, John should be accepted to be thriving and having fun. This isn't an option for John, however, because he's starved for love and unable to receive it because he doesn't love himself already. Tragic, but ironic, John falls into despair while his external circumstances have never looked better.
