Irony of Nostalgia
The book is replete with the moments from past and the narrator has not given an account of his present situation. Every moment in the present reminds him of the past days and memories. For instance, the smell of things reminds him the memories associated with those smells. He re-experiences the long-forgotten moments through trivial things. It is ironical that instead of living in the present, the narrator has relived his past through narrating his past. The nostalgia of his past has overcome him throughout the book. He finds solace in the past and the present torments him. The euphoric recall of the past seems to be a bliss for the narrator. Although he had already lived those moments but still, they seem mysterious to him and certain moments are unexplainable. The taste of a Madeleine takes him back to his childhood and then to his youth.
Irony of Love
The narrator feels himself stunned by the beauty of a woman and he remembers the moment many times. The irony is that the narrator seems confused about his love because he wonders whether those memories are real or a part of his nostalgia. He feels to be deeply attached with the reminiscences of the Odette’s daughter, but the ineffable moments lead him to remember the ironical moments of his life. Swann’s love for Odette is also ironical because he becomes so much obsessed with her beauty that he does not consider anything else. Despite of taking her as an ordinary woman at their first meeting, he starts noticing her resemblance with a painting of Botticelli. It leads to his devotion for Odette, who was engage in love affairs with other men. Swann deeply loves her, but she remains infidel and indifferent to his love for her.
Irony of Type
Charles Swann was a well-off person, who ascended his social class because of his relentless efforts but he marries a woman who does not belong to his class. Charles had connection with the aristocrats, but he does tell Marcel’s family about it. He remains humble a devoted person towards his family and friends. After getting to know about his wife’s betrayal, he still wants to remain in the illusion of her love. When she withdraws from her, he follows her and gives her money for the trip with her boyfriend, Forcheville. An anonymous letter opens his eyes and he question Odette about her love affair. She confesses about several affairs before and after her marriage with Swann. He leaves her after knowing about the horrible part of her life by uttering an ironical statement that ‘She was not of my type.’
Irony of Objects
Another irony in the book is that humans determine their emotions according to the objects. The smell of madeleine tea or cakes revives the memories of marcel’s childhood and the music of Verteuil makes Swann realize that he no longer loves Odette. Swann’s love for Odette begins with an object and ends because of the lack of attraction to a particular phrase of music. He did not adore Odette at first, but it was a painting which lead him fall in love with Odette. The object made him obsessed with Odette and a little phrase of music builds his association with Odette. The phrase strengthens his love for her, and the same phrase makes his mind to leave his wife. It is ironical that the objects triggered the emotions and the memories of past in the novel.
