In The Armies of the Night, Mailer shows an America torn by opposing opinions and emotions where, paradoxically, protesters and adherents alike are too moral and too principled.

In The Executioner's Song, Mailer shows an America that can be made to admire the unadmirable and condemn the commendable. This is both ironical and, again, paradoxical.

In An American Dream, Mailer shows an America that is bathed in ironic paradox through Rojax's dilemma growing out of not finishing his one heroic act by not charging the remaining German soldier's bayonet.