Situational Irony: Irony on the Journey to Gebel
Ibn Fattouma, the main character in the book, wants to go to a place where there is no corruption. The irony is displayed where his teacher advises him to look for an unknown land called Gebel to get answers to why his home country is corrupt. Nobody has ever stepped to Gebel and it is ironic for Fattouma’s teacher to advise him to get answers from such a mysterious place.
Irony of Acculturation and Religion
Fattouma questions Mashriq’s culture and religion when he gets into the country. He seems to be upset about how people are leading their lifestyles. Therefore, it is irony for him to get assimilated and fall in love with a woman from the country. Fattouma falls in love with Arousa and sire five children. All this is irony based on his questioning of society’s morals and culture.
Dramatic Irony: Irony of Re-union
When Fattouma decides to indoctrinate his eldest son to the Islamic religion, he is exiled from Mashriq. He goes to Haira. The irony is exhibited where Arousa is brought to Haira as a slave and meets Fattouma. It is sarcastic for Arousa to get enslaved in a land where her former lover was exiled. Such re-union is ironic.
Situational Irony: The Irony of Unlikely Friendship
After the god-king of Haira is toppled, he advises Fattouma to go to Halba and look for a land to settle with Arousa and their children. Initially, god-king had jailed Fattouma and snatched Arousa from him. Therefore, it is ironic for him to advise the same man he jailed to look for land in another country and settle. That unlikely friendship is ironic.
Irony of Invasion and War
Fattouma travels through many countries so as to reach his destination. However, whenever he gets into a country, an invasion ensues between the neighboring countries. Such invasion and war are ironic. It is ironic for invasions to only occur when he sets foot in these countries.
