The Irony of Harrison's Trial
As became common during the Red Scare, the House Un-American Activities Committee did not guess correctly that Harrison was a Communist sympathizer. He spent time with the Riveras and loved them, true, but he was not a participant in their political activities. He worked as a plaster mixer, there for the art. Regardless of his true allegiance, however, just being called to trial is enough to forever seal Harrison's public identity as a Communist. His reputation is falsely ruined.
The Irony of Harrison's Affair
Harrison grew up in Mexico as the child of his mom, who was a frequent mistress. She supported the household by her misters. When Harrison lives with the Rivera's, he too has an affair. He dates Frida, Rivera's wife, but this relationship is ironic because Harrison is gay. He follows his mother's path in life, but he does so as a utilitarian, not as a romantic.
The Irony of Frida's Gift
When he leaves, Harrison is given a present from Frida. Believing it to be a painting of sentimental value, he never opens the package. Harrison has no use for sentiment. Ironically, however, he spends all his time grieving the loss of his journals to the Mexican police, but those journals are the true contents of the present. He discovers the truth years later.
The Irony of the Burnt Journals
Harrison, intent upon keeping the reason for his expulsion from Potomac Academy a secret, has Violet later burn his journals from those years. He has a secret which the reader is not allowed to know, but earlier texts already reveal that he's gay. Harrison cannot keep the reader clueless about his romance with Billy, but he does attempt to conceal how the relationship ends. In retrospect, Harrison's editorial decision reveals an anticipation that his journals will become public, as they do posthumously thanks to Violet.
The Irony of Harrison's Novels
Harrison spends time with famous artists in Mexico -- Trotsky and Rivera. He leads a most interesting life, but for all his consideration in writing, he is ultimately unsuccessful. The tools that he gained from these two great mentors are useless and ignored because Harrison's mere association with these men leads to his utter rejection by American audiences who fear his supposed Communist ties.
