The irony of simplification of life (“Red Leaves”)
Two Indians – Three Basket and Louis Berry – talk about the slaves, and how much they have complicated the lives of ordinary Indians. They, slaves, cannot be without work, and since they had appeared, Indians had to make up any kind of work for them, and it takes them a lot of time. The irony is that slaves were supposed to make the lives of other people easier, but they, on contrary, had made it more difficult.
Indian Traditions (“Red Leaves”)
The Indians had their own traditions that look strange and inhumane for civilized nations. One of such was cannibalism, as they used to eat man’s flesh. With the appearance of black slaves there were instances of such eating, but their meat was bitter and not tasty. Another reason that eating blacks was a bad idea, was the fact that "they are too valuable to eat, anyway, when the white men will give horses for them." The irony is of cruelty and inhumanity, but, at the same time, it is the collision of interests and moral values of different communities.
The irony of justice (“Barn Burning”)
The protagonist of the story Barn Burning goes through a difficult choice of being honest and fair, or being a devoted son. Young Sarty chooses the first option, and tells on his own father, who was a barn burner. The tragedy of the situation is ironic, but in a painful way, because the narrative conveys the unfairness of life.
Nancy (“That Evening sun”)
Nance, a black woman, is overwhelmed with a fear of the enemy hidden in the shadows of the night - her husband. She is convinced that one night he might kill her. The situation mocks at the marriage ties, as a husband is the one a wife should trust the most, and find support in. But in Nancy’s case her husband is her enemy, and the one she is deadly afraid of. The irony concerns Christian beliefs of marriage.
