Irony of Rosh
Rosh is a character that is introduced as the savior for the Jewish people. As the novel progresses it becomes clear that Rosh only cares about himself, and the most damage he does is to the Jewish people living amongst the Romans. He recruits young and outcast boys for his gain only, caring more about his reputation than actual action in freeing the Jewish people.
Irony of freedom
At first, Daniel’s image of freedom is the mountain away from obligations and reality of the people truly suffering in the towns. Daniel soon realizes the warped image of freedom he had, and that he was plagued with chains of his own consciousness. True freedom is the freedom away from hate and fear that hate evokes, freedom that comes from understanding and love.
Irony of Leah
The character of Leah is a complex one. She is described as a girl plagued with demons, when it is clear that she suffers from trauma caused by the loss of parents and isolation from society. What helps her is slow communication with the world, and her actions show that she isn’t a hindered girl suffering from demon possession, but a girl psychologically suffering from trauma. Being isolated her whole love, she is more open-minded and insightful than Daniel, shown in her compassion towards the Roman soldier.
Situational irony of the fight for justice
The entire novel shows indications of a huge fight for justice and freedom about to come. Daniel recruits young men to fight alongside Rosh and dreams of presenting them to him. As the novel moves forward, and hints about the true character of Rosh come forward it is clear that the large fight for freedom is far away. At the end, there is no actual war, and the fight for justice becomes an inner fight of overcoming hatred and fear and opening the heart for love and understanding. The expected outcome of the novel is subverted which makes this a situational irony.
