Situational Irony:
* The Changed Man: The biggest irony is the transformation of Jimmy Wells, the loyal friend who was supposed to wait for his old friend, Bob, after twenty years. Jimmy, instead of being a struggling man, is now a successful police captain. He's the one enforcing the law, while Bob, the one who went astray, is the criminal. This contrast is a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and how circumstances can drastically change people's paths.
* The Meeting's Location: The meeting point was a specific spot, "the corner of the old 'restaurant.'" The irony is that this location is no longer a restaurant but a drug store, a symbol of the changing times.
* The Signal: The "signal" that Bob used to identify himself—a pre-arranged code of "twenty years" - becomes the very thing that leads to his downfall. It reveals him to his former friend who now holds the power of arrest.
* The Reward: Bob is caught and arrested, but the reward he expected—the promise of a good job and escape from the city—is never offered. This irony highlights the bleak reality of Bob's situation.
Dramatic Irony:
* The Reader's Knowledge: The reader knows the identity of the police officer much sooner than Bob, creating dramatic irony. We see Bob's actions with an understanding of the consequences that Bob himself is unaware of.
* Bob's Self-Deception: Bob believes he can "pull off" the job and escape to a new life, but his belief is contradicted by the harsh reality of his arrest. He's ultimately tricked by his own wishful thinking.
Overall, the irony in "After Twenty Years" serves to emphasize the themes of:
* The Unpredictability of Life: The story highlights how life can take unexpected turns, leading to drastically different outcomes for people who once shared similar ambitions.
* The Power of Circumstance: Both Jimmy and Bob are products of their environments, and their choices are shaped by their circumstances.
* The Fallibility of Human Nature: Even good intentions can be corrupted by time and circumstance, as evidenced by Bob's fall from grace.
* The Inescapable Consequences of Actions: Bob's actions, driven by desperation, ultimately lead to his downfall, demonstrating the concept of karma.
These are just a few examples, and the irony in "After Twenty Years" is open to interpretation. Each reader might find different layers of irony depending on their own perspective and experience.