Rom-Com 101
The novel might twist the romantic comedy rules in order to fit it into a same-sex love story. But it still follows certain rules and conventions. Such as the fact that no couple destined to be together may be allowed to start off actually liking each other, lest the irony of their love be diluted:
“Alex snorts. It’s insane to him that there are legions of people who follow the intensely dull dating lives of the royal siblings. He understands why people care where he puts his own tongue—at least he has personality.”
Shakespearean
“Sworn enemies forced to make peace to settle tensions between their countries? There’s something totally Shakespearean about it.”
The irony inherent here is that bit about Shakespeare. This kind of dramatic conflict at the highest levels of power with all its backstabbing and secret cabals and such is often termed “Shakespearean” but the specific Shakespearean plays usually being alluded to are his histories. Shakespeare may intensify the dramatic conflict on a macro level, but the terminology here is incorrect. A story about star-crossed lovers who wind up dead is Shakespearean but sworn enemies making peace to settle tensions is just plain historical and crediting Shakespeare with the idea is profoundly ironic.
Funny Words From a Prince
Prince Henry is no mere prince. He is the Prince. The most famous and iconic prince in the English-speaking world: the Prince of Wales. The prince who has just one real job above all others: waiting for the current monarch to die so he can ascend to the throne. Keep that in mind when considering the irony that the speaker here is Henry, Prince of Wales:
“I always liked Luke. He’s brave and good, and he’s the strongest Jedi of them all. I think Luke is proof that it doesn’t matter where you come from or who your family is—you can always be great if you’re true to yourself.”
Is Alex Smart?
A recurring thing throughout the text is the mention of the various apparently high-level classes Alex is taking in college. Combined with explicit references, the suggestion is that he is intellectually gifted. Which makes it very ironic that he seems to be completely ignorant of things which are not exactly obscure, such as story of Pyramus and Thisbe or the origin of the King James Bible:
Henry: “Did you know the reason the King James translation of the Bible exists is because the Church of England was so displeased with James for flaunting his relationship with Villiers that he had the translation commissioned to appease them?”
Alex: “You’re kidding.”
Self-Reflective Irony
Alex may not be moron on general terms, but in comparison to Henry, well, let’s leave it open. One thing is definitely likable about the Prince, though: he is emotionally self-aware and intellectually conscious of the irony of his being homosexual within the context of his royal bloodline:
“It’s a bit ironic, you know…Me, the cursed gay heir, standing here in Victoria’s museum, considering how much she loved those sodomy laws.”
