How Does Daniel Orozco Use Verbal Irony In The Orientation

In Daniel Orozco's short story, "The Orientation" a new employee has been thrown into what seems like a casual introduction tour of an office by an unknown guide whose explanation of the rules and claims gradually become ridiculous than his last. The new employee has been given insight into the goings on's along with the do's and don'ts when interacting with alleged paranormal and murdering coworkers in a nonchalant way. There's this eery and thrilling tone being set up by Orozco that leads the reader to question the legitimacy of the rules and the lack of social mechanisms in response to unusual scenarios going on in the workplace. It makes the reader think, "could this tour of the office just be a gossip tell-all from a unanimous tour guide

In the "Orientation" Orozco uses the setting of an inconspicuous office as a ground to challenge internalized morality. He uses themes like verbal irony, passiveness, and lack of preconceived notions to validify that human beings do not always question and act out when faced with the immoral.
The author uses verbal irony in the form of the organized workplace having some very contradicting and strict rules that add to the contrast of order. Some of the first lines reveal what some may perceive as conventional yet odd as the tour guide instructs, "This is your phone. Never answer your phone. Let the Voicemail System answer it. This is your Voicemail System Manual. There are no personal phone calls allowed"(Orozco). This office seems to be very particular about there no phone call policy, but the wording and presentation suggest a contradicting and almost unorthodox tone when compared to a normal work environment. The

In the midst of assumed murders and alleged paranormal activity lies a love dilemma in this workplace. One being Russell Nash and Amanda Pierce who happen to be married and have a son who's autistic in which the guide lets the new employee know to compliment her son's the drawings that hang in the cubicle. The guide gives more insight into the relationship of Russell and Amanda by adding,"For Amanda Pierce, it is just a tedious bus ride made less tedious by the idle nattering of Russell Nash. But for Russell Nash, it is the highlight of his day. It is the highlight of his life"(Orozco ). Amanda tolerates Russell's presence but chooses to view him as anything but attractive while Russell continues to be bothered as he's only seen as a lonely slob desperate for love. Yet on the opposite of the coin lies the side of Amanda Pierce with her forceful and skewed perception of love as the guide brings up that her lawyer husband has been abusive at home. The guide goes on to admit,"He subjects her to an escalating array of painful and humiliating sex games, to which Amanda Pierce reluctantly submits. She comes to work exhausted and freshly wounded each morning"(Orozco). You would think if her bruises were noticeable someone would question its origins and in turn would want to help her or at the very least the man who views her as the highlight of his day and sits one