In her lack of perception, her life is "brilliant," but as we continue to read the text we see the reality that Miss Brill is either not aware of or chooses not to see. The central irony of the text is that Miss Brill observes others and thinks that they had "just come from dark little" cupboards when she herself is shown to retreat to "her room like a cupboard" at the end of the story when she has her illusion punctured by the rude comments of the couple. Thus the name of "Brill" heightens the disparity between reality and perception and reinforces the theme of lack of self-perception.