Final answer:
The irony in Tom pumping air for Ruby in 'The Deep' lies in the life-sustaining act taking place in an environment where industrialization has harmed both nature and human health, reflecting society's harmful prioritization of progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The irony in 'The Deep' by Anthony Doerr concerning Tom’s action of pumping air while Ruby dives in the marsh is embedded in the author's exploration of human relationship with the environment and the impact of industrialization.
Despite the act of pumping air representing life and survival, it occurs in a setting where industrialization has tainted and depleted nature's vitality. This scenario epitomizes the industrial society's narrow focus on progress at the expense of the environment and human well-being.
The act of pumping air, which should be life-giving, functions in a paradoxical setting where the air itself symbolizes not just life, but also the life that has been corrupted and enslaved to industrial needs.
Moreover, this action takes place in the shadow of a town that has grown so disconnected from the beauty of nature that their existence seems antithetical to the healthful natural world. The irony lies in the juxtaposition of life-sustaining actions against a backdrop where the quality of life, both environmentally and humanly, has been severely compromised.