From the reading of James Joyce’s “The Dead”, many instances occur to reveal the main character, Gabriel Conroy, is not really the person he and others think he is. Supporting characters include Gabriel’s wife, Gretta, Lily, Gabriel’s aunts, Kate and Julia Morkan, Gabriel’s cousin, Mary Jane, and a guest at the party, Molly Ivors. Throughout this story with the help of these supporting characters, Gabriel comes to term with the differences in lifestyle and attitude that he portrays. This story is described as “…it centers around the consciousness of Gabriel Conroy, a teacher and literary man in turn of the century Dublin” (Begnal).
At the beginning of the story, Joyce portrays Gabriel as a very self-assured and responsible man, but as the story goes on, it is shown that this is not the case. His aunts, Kate and Julia Morkan host an annual dance at their residence. They depend on Gabriel to make sure everything flows smoothly throughout the night. An example of this would be when one of their guests, Freddy Malins arrives. Kate and Julia were already expecting him to show up drunk. “Slip down, Gabriel, like a good fellow and see if he’s all right, and don’t let him up if he’s screwed. I’m sure he’s screwed. I’m sure he is” (Sipiora 300).
An example of Gabriel being different then his family and friends is shown when Miss Molly Ivors decided to speak with him. She is very upset that Gabriel is writing an article on a regular basis for the The Daily Express. Gabriel is astonished. “Why should I be ashamed of myself?” (Sipiora 303) Miss Ivors then proceeds to call him a traitor by stating, “I didn’t think you were a West Briton.” (Sipiora 303) She also questions him when he says that for his vacation he is not visiting his own land. “I’m sick of my own country, sick of it!” (Sipiora 304)
Gabriel’s realization of himself is seen when his wife, Gretta, reveals a past love to him. She speaks of Michael Furey when an Irish ballad is played at the party. “I think he died for me.” (Sipiora 320) To no surprise, Gabriel was upset and hurt by this remark. All of this time and he thought that Gretta was truly in love with him, but she actually loved Michael Furey. At this point Gabriel is forced to see that he is not living the life that he should be living. “Ultimately, Gabriel can only revel in self-pity, as he celebrates what he considers to be his own worthlessness” (Begnal).
Sipiora, Phillip. “The Dead.” Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 297-322.
Begnal, Michael H. “The Dead:Overview.” Reference Guide to Short Fiction, 1st ed., edited by Noelle Watson, St. James Press, 1994.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Complete Opposites-Life and Death
In the reading of “Indian Camp” by Ernest Hemingway, I found it to be a very distinctive story of a little boy, Nick, who traveled with his father. At first I thought this was going to be a story of adventure. It was a story of adventure but in a different way than I expected. This was an adventure of a little boy witnessing both life and death.
Nick was a young boy who accompanied his father on many outings that some would feel not appropriate for young children. Nick’s father must have felt that this experience would be important in the growth and development of his son both mentally and emotionally. As a result of witnessing the Indian woman give birth, Nick was able to see the beauty of life; however he also was able to see the tragedy of death from the Indian mans suicide. Luckily, Nick did not see everything; a few times Nick chose not to look at what his father was doing. Also I think from reading this quote by Hemingway, Nick could have associated life with women and death with men especially when he asked his father, “Do many men kill themselves, Daddy?” followed by “Do many women?” (30).
As for anyone witnessing life and death can be an experience to remember. Nick was like any normal child in asking his father questions about what he had witnessed. His questions were still simple because of his age, but like everyone else what really caught me was when Hemingway made the point of Nick that “…he felt quite sure that he would never die.” (31). My opinion is he thought this because he either cannot see himself taking his own life, he is in denial and does not want to face the fact that one day he will die just as his father and everyone will, or he is still too young and immature to fully understand.
While only about a day has passed, Nick grew more mentally and emotionally than some kids his age would grow in a year. This is nothing but a mere fact of life, numerous births happen everyday just as numerous deaths occur everyday. It is evident that because of this experience Nick has grown up and will continue to grow as he experiences and witnesses more situations. However, it is a strong possibility that as Nick continues these outing with his father, he may grow up too fast and he may not have the opportunity to live a normal childhood.
Sipiora, Phillip. “Indian Camp.” Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 28-31.
Nick was a young boy who accompanied his father on many outings that some would feel not appropriate for young children. Nick’s father must have felt that this experience would be important in the growth and development of his son both mentally and emotionally. As a result of witnessing the Indian woman give birth, Nick was able to see the beauty of life; however he also was able to see the tragedy of death from the Indian mans suicide. Luckily, Nick did not see everything; a few times Nick chose not to look at what his father was doing. Also I think from reading this quote by Hemingway, Nick could have associated life with women and death with men especially when he asked his father, “Do many men kill themselves, Daddy?” followed by “Do many women?” (30).
As for anyone witnessing life and death can be an experience to remember. Nick was like any normal child in asking his father questions about what he had witnessed. His questions were still simple because of his age, but like everyone else what really caught me was when Hemingway made the point of Nick that “…he felt quite sure that he would never die.” (31). My opinion is he thought this because he either cannot see himself taking his own life, he is in denial and does not want to face the fact that one day he will die just as his father and everyone will, or he is still too young and immature to fully understand.
While only about a day has passed, Nick grew more mentally and emotionally than some kids his age would grow in a year. This is nothing but a mere fact of life, numerous births happen everyday just as numerous deaths occur everyday. It is evident that because of this experience Nick has grown up and will continue to grow as he experiences and witnesses more situations. However, it is a strong possibility that as Nick continues these outing with his father, he may grow up too fast and he may not have the opportunity to live a normal childhood.
Sipiora, Phillip. “Indian Camp.” Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 28-31.
A Lingering Past
In the reading of “Babylon Revisited” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I interpreted it to be a story of how our past actions have consequences, and our past can have a negative effect throughout our life course. People make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and people can change for the better. However, when will others realize that someone has changed, and that the past is the past? Or can others see through to lingering qualities of the past? My thought is that Charlie did not want to completely give up his past even though this meant he could bring his daughter home! He was attempting to live a double life.
Charlie Wales, the main character, is one of curiosity. But, Charlie battled something serious, alcoholism. The relationships with other important characters including Alix, Marion and Lincoln Peters, Honoria, Lorraine Quarrels, Duncan Schaffer, in this story are important to the lesson being told. In the past Charlie had led an adventurous life; he and his wife, Helen, traveled together and spent money like there was never an end. Everyone in Paris knew of Charlie and his drinking days, especially Alix, the bartender. When Charlie showed up at the bar and wanted only one drink, Alix was a bit surprised. “You were going pretty strong a couple of years ago” (6). Alix was also Charlie’s link to old friends. I question Charlie’s motive in revisiting this bar. If he really was trying to shape up, why would he go in there and inquire about old friends, and why would he give Alix his address to give to Duncan, an old drinking buddy? Alix was not even aware that Charlie had a daughter.
Marion and Lincoln Peters were the ones caring for Charlie’s daughter, Honoria. Marion is Charlie’s sister-in-law, and she continued to hold a grudge against Charlie for her sister, Helen, also Charlie’s wife, death, blaming Charlie for this tragedy. Marion and Lincoln led a normal lifestyle in comparison to Charlie. They were not rich nor did they go out to the bars to drink. Family came first. Their kids were well-mannered. When Charlie visited and spoke with Marion and Lincoln, they were very hesitant to believing that Charlie had only one drink a day. Marion especially is very skeptical of Charlie and his suddenly new and improved lifestyle.
Honoria, Charlie’s daughter, was 9 years of age. She was a well-mannered and behaved child. She was ecstatic to see her father. They both wanted the opportunity to get to know one another. The more time Charlie spent with Honoria, the more he realized that this seemed to be the kind of life he wanted. Honoria also wanted to live with her father, even though she seemed to be content with his aunt and uncle. When Charlie approached Marion and Lincoln about taking Honoria with him, they were shocked and very unsure. Over a short time span they were about to accept the thought that Charlie would take his daughter back and care for her, however, Charlie’s past actions ruined any chance of this. Duncan and Lorraine intrude into Charlie’s life. This proves to Marion that Charlie is not able and will not be able to care for Honoria. Just when Charlie thought he was getting the life he wanted, his past decided against him.
Charlie’s attempt to maintain his past and start over failed. He was back to square one, and he had not accomplished anything. We are left to wonder if Charlie will go after what he wants, his daughter, or will he settle to the thought that his past will never allow him to do so? Personally, I hope he changes for the better.
Sipiora, Phillip. "Babylon Revisited." Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 6-19.
Charlie Wales, the main character, is one of curiosity. But, Charlie battled something serious, alcoholism. The relationships with other important characters including Alix, Marion and Lincoln Peters, Honoria, Lorraine Quarrels, Duncan Schaffer, in this story are important to the lesson being told. In the past Charlie had led an adventurous life; he and his wife, Helen, traveled together and spent money like there was never an end. Everyone in Paris knew of Charlie and his drinking days, especially Alix, the bartender. When Charlie showed up at the bar and wanted only one drink, Alix was a bit surprised. “You were going pretty strong a couple of years ago” (6). Alix was also Charlie’s link to old friends. I question Charlie’s motive in revisiting this bar. If he really was trying to shape up, why would he go in there and inquire about old friends, and why would he give Alix his address to give to Duncan, an old drinking buddy? Alix was not even aware that Charlie had a daughter.
Marion and Lincoln Peters were the ones caring for Charlie’s daughter, Honoria. Marion is Charlie’s sister-in-law, and she continued to hold a grudge against Charlie for her sister, Helen, also Charlie’s wife, death, blaming Charlie for this tragedy. Marion and Lincoln led a normal lifestyle in comparison to Charlie. They were not rich nor did they go out to the bars to drink. Family came first. Their kids were well-mannered. When Charlie visited and spoke with Marion and Lincoln, they were very hesitant to believing that Charlie had only one drink a day. Marion especially is very skeptical of Charlie and his suddenly new and improved lifestyle.
Honoria, Charlie’s daughter, was 9 years of age. She was a well-mannered and behaved child. She was ecstatic to see her father. They both wanted the opportunity to get to know one another. The more time Charlie spent with Honoria, the more he realized that this seemed to be the kind of life he wanted. Honoria also wanted to live with her father, even though she seemed to be content with his aunt and uncle. When Charlie approached Marion and Lincoln about taking Honoria with him, they were shocked and very unsure. Over a short time span they were about to accept the thought that Charlie would take his daughter back and care for her, however, Charlie’s past actions ruined any chance of this. Duncan and Lorraine intrude into Charlie’s life. This proves to Marion that Charlie is not able and will not be able to care for Honoria. Just when Charlie thought he was getting the life he wanted, his past decided against him.
Charlie’s attempt to maintain his past and start over failed. He was back to square one, and he had not accomplished anything. We are left to wonder if Charlie will go after what he wants, his daughter, or will he settle to the thought that his past will never allow him to do so? Personally, I hope he changes for the better.
Sipiora, Phillip. "Babylon Revisited." Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 6-19.
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