Irony of Ubik
The irony of Ubik as a story lies in the very last sentence, which reveals that all the action that took place is only the beginning. The story is left without a concrete ending, i.e. the ending is only the beginning, signifying the never ending cycle. The irony of the substance Ubik lies in the nonchalant introduction of it in the form of advertisements provided with each chapter. It is only at the end that it is revealed that the substance represents everything, it is the creation itself.
Irony of Pat
Pat is introduced as an obvious villain of the story from the start. The reader as well as the characters suspect her abilities to manipulate time to be the source of everything, which makes the final reveal that she herself believes to be the main reason for everything underwhelming. The final irony is that she doesn’t play part in anything and just like everyone gets killed by Jory, who drains her life power.
Irony of Joe Chip
Joe Chip is the main tragic protagonist of the novel. It is his voice that is predominantly heard throughout. Looking for a way out of the fictional world built by Jory, in the final revelation of the novel, he discovers that he will be stuck there with a mission to fight him indefinitely. The irony of Joe is that his nightmare never ends.
Irony of Half-Life
Half-life is a state in which some humans are left partially alive with the help of technology. Their bodies are frozen and their minds are left in a state of life and ability to communicate with the living. This artificial way of preserving life isn’t left without consequences. That consequence is the existence of Jory who swallows those living in half-life, accelerating their inevitable end. Despite Jory being the villain, he could also be seen as a nature’s way to regain balance.
