The second wife business
Marriage doesn't mean "I'll love you until you annoy me, and then I'll probably hire a young mistress." But that's exactly what Suezo does to his own wife. It's highly ironic because to betray one's wife is to betray one's self.
The impotent father
A father like Otama's should have been allowed honor and wealthy, or at least relative comfort in his old age. But instead, he is relatively powerless, a result of his age and his low social status.
The evil tyrant
Instead of seeing the noble, honorable father in a position of power, there is an evil tyrant. This is the ironic Xerxes in the Book of Esther, not the husband a father would hope for his daughter. And not only that, the evil tyrant only accepts her as a servant mistress.
The irony of extortion
Taking from others to fill one's pockets to excess is ironic because it's sociopathic. Also, it creates a situation like Suezo's, needing to extort affection from resistant women, rich, but in a community who detests him.
The ironic Okada
Will Okada rescue Otama? Also, who is Okada in relationship to the narrator, because the narrator made interesting comments about his relationship to Otama, so if Okada is the narrator, then the dilemma of the narrative changes. The question is, "Why hasn't Okada saved her yet?" which has an ironic implication on the meaning. Perhaps it's not just a story but a call to action to intervene in real life when injustice appears.
