What is the irony in "Happy Event" by Nadine Gordimer?

Answer 1

Read widely.
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=irony+in+%22Happy+Event%22+by+Nadine+Gordimer&aq=f&aqi=&oq=&fp=7d15299a959dbb33

Irony:
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_I.html
Scroll about 3/4ths of the way down this webpage and read about Irony -- and the different types of irony.

Let us know what you decide.

Answer 2

In one case, the happy event is the birth of a child (followed by its death). In the second case, the happy event is the death of the child followed by a trip to Rome.

Answer 3

The irony is that, despite the fact that the two women (Lena and Ella) have committed similar acts. They are treated very differently. You would expect that similar crimes would warrant similar punishment, but that doesn't happen. Situational irony.