The short story "Carnal Knowledge" by T. Coraghessan Boyle begins as a well-disguised comedy, but evolves into a narrative focused on self identity. This story is also filled with many types of irony. Understanding the irony of the story is essential in comprehending Boyle's humor and meaning in "Carnal Knowledge."
             The first and most common form of irony is verbal irony. This occurs when a character says one thing, but means the opposite. After Jim is first introduced to his new love, he attempts to ask her out to eat. Jim claims, " 'I don't eat meat myself, [...] or actually, not anymore' – since the pastrami sandwich, that is- [...]" (Boyle 328). The irony is not that he is lying, the irony of it is the fact that he is lying about eating meat, which is what he had done earlier that same day, and now he is posing as a vegetarian.
             The next case of verbal irony occurs when Jim is protesting with Alena in front of the fur emporium. Jim thinks of how many times he had worn leather and suede in the past and notes the following:
             I would have worn fur, no compunction, no second thoughts. [...] But not anymore. Now I was the protestor, a placard waver, [...] Of course, my feet hurt and I was running sweat and praying that no one from work would drive by and see me there on the sidewalk with my crazy cohorts and denunciatory sign. (329-330)
             Jim claims that he is not the insensitive guy he once was. He is a protestor now, but in the back of his mind he is thinking of how bad his feet hurt, how hot it is, and prays that no one from work will see him. He wants to feel like he is contributing to the cause and boost Alena's trust in him, but he does not want it to be an inconvenience to him. He even calls his antics "crazy" (330). Through his complaints, he completely retracts his previous statement and the reader is aware that his is still the inse...