Woolly Does Not Know the Safe Combination (Situational Irony)
The search for Woolly’s great-grandfather’s safe is what incites Duchess and Woolly to break out of Salina at the beginning of the novel, and further spurs on their journey to New York. But it turns out that Woolly does not know the combination to the safe’s lock, and is unable to access the money. Duchess, who has failed to realize this along their entire journey east, can do nothing but laugh at the irony.
Emmett and Billy Go to New York (Situational Irony)
Emmett’s meticulous plan is to head West for Texas or California. In a twist of situational irony, Emmett and Billy end up 1,500 miles in the opposite direction of where they intended to go, and the novel ends where it was supposed to begin: with Emmett and Billy starting the long journey west to San Francisco.
Pastor John Preys on Billy (Situational Irony)
Pastor John's character is an instance of situational irony: by all outward appearances he is a pious religious leader, while his true intention is to steal from and harm Billy.
Duchess Pulls an Unloaded Gun on Emmett and Billy (Dramatic Irony)
During a dramatic, tension-filled moment of the finale, Duchess pulls a hunting rifle on Emmett and Billy, refusing to be dragged to the police station. He threatens to shoot, not knowing that the rules of closing the house—which has been examined earlier by Emmett and Billy—includes disarming the guns before leaving.
