All this little stories say much more than the details in few pages that they narrate. Broadly, they could be thought of to be, in the same tune of, "The Portrait ..."; highly insightful even while economical in its descriptions, it is not hard to see why this collection is considered a classic, although as stories, they often end, open. In another sense, the protagonists as well as the other characters are all "Dubliners", literally. Young husbands caught in marriages that limit their adventures, drunkard husbands who don't think beyond the evening, boys enjoying a stolen break from school, youths enjoying the recklessness of youth with no spending money on the morrow, shrewd mothers who have to "palm off" the responsibilities of their daughters to a 'convenient' match, married women ignored by their husbands - all these characters made up Dublin and the then contemporary culture, which Joyce presents here to such effect, that these vignettes will haunt you for a few days upon completing them. For, the human element in them can travel across seas and continents, and with necessary alterations be assumed to be applicable to many a crowded town.
The short stories are heavy with terms (i.e. slang - e.g. stirabout, josser, keep nix, lambabaun, deep goster for example) which are more British, than Irish. While they bring in a naturalness, for those of us outside the culture or tradition, a reference of terms is supplied to enrich the overall experience. About a third of the references are from recent Irish political history, and the explanations therein make the reading experience, complete.
To take a look at the short stories per se, and a quick word on why I found them attractive;
The unnamed narrator in the first vignette, reflects about a priest who had recently passed away, and to whom he owes a lot for the knowledge learned. His own relations take a negative view of their close association, and our narrator considers them crude and ignorant. The sisters ( the title, too ) are a reference to the late priests siblings, whom his mother and he meet at the funeral. Although there isn't a single reference of affection, respect or gratitude towards the priest, it is clear that to our narrator, the late priest is likely to be a life long influence. It is this 'understanding' which come to settle on the reader's mind, via a brilliant narration that makes this vignette, classic material.
"I found it strange that neither I nor the day seemed in a mourning mood and I felt even annoyed at discovering in myself a sensation of freedom as if I had been freed from something by his death. I wondered at this for, as my uncle had said the night before, he had taught me a great deal. He had studied in the Irish college in Rome and he had taught me to pronounce Latin properly. He had told me stories about the catacombs and about Napoleon Bonaparte, and he had explained to me the meaning of the different ceremonies of the Mass and of the different vestments worn by the priest. Sometimes he had amused himself by putting difficult questions to me, asking me what one should do in certain circumstances or whether such and such sins were mortal or venial or only imperfections. His questions showed me how complex and mysterious were certain institutions of the Church which I had always regarded as the simplest acts."This text suggests the dilemma that the narrating youth faces. While there's unmistakable awe at the late priests' learning, he cannot deny the sense of relief and freedom; this, while scorning at his own ignorant uncle.
Two boys break the routine of their priest conducted school class room to have a little adventure - An Encounter, as it were. While they enjoy their day of leisure and freedom, what brings the vignette a little spice is the arrival of a strange man, who's intentions are left unclear - "a queer old josser!", as they term him. The manner in which one of the boy's sense the possible danger that the man brings, is what lingers in the reader's mind after she finishes this rather open ended vignette.
"Then I stood up abruptly. Lest I should betray my agitation I delayed a few moments pretending to fix my shoe properly and then, saying that I was obliged to go, I bade him good-day. I went up the slope calmly but my heart was beating quickly with fear that he would seize me by the ankles."Araby is a nice little vignette of young love; love at a time when he or she has to depend on the benevolence of elders for its secret sustenance. The determination and desperation with which our young lover tries to keep his promise to his girl reminds one of that Donny Osmond song (his version, rather), which to most of us had so much meaning, once.
The vignette, Evelyn gives a reflection on the difficulty, one has to break away from the familiar, however much coarse and unpleasant it is. This is especially so, when the promised change itself comes with an element of the unknown.
Youth - when acceptance is of the utmost importance, even when that comes at a cost which is not affordable to one, and they know it as one lives through it, amidst the laughs, drink and banter ( After the Race )
There's hardly another topic which flames up a chat between two men - especially young men - than one on a woman. This can lead to a dissection of all girls , or all types of girls easily, with one or both parties adopting an air of expertise - and even philosophy. In two gallants, we see such an evening stroll between two young men, with one adopting an air of an "expert in women". The natural amble that the vignette flows in, makes the chat, one that any man anywhere can relate to, one time or the other.
The Boarding House is a short story which reveals the tact and cunning, as well as the finesse of planning by a certain mother, and to a lesser degree, a daughter, to entrap a suitor for the latter. The suitor in question, realizes he is trapped. The way that the author presents the suitor in question, running the past in his mind and weighing his options, and the resulting hopelessness, makes ingredients for a fantastic short story. The finale in which the daughter almost realizes as a passing thought what she had been waiting for alone, in her room, signifies the subtle, unspoken plan between two women - a mother and a daughter. A brilliant short story!
The next short story explores the sentiments of a young married man, a father, as he meets a friend from his younger days. The friend, who our protagonist reckons was initially in a lesser footing than him, has progressed in life, during his time in the UK.
"...listening to Gallaher's stories and of sharing for a brief space Gallaher's vagrant and triumphant life, upset the equipoise of his sensitive nature. He felt acutely the contrast between his own life and his friend's and it seemed to him unjust. Gallaher was his inferior in birth and education. He was sure that he could do something better than his friend had ever done, or could ever do, something higher than mere tawdry journalism if he only got the chance. What was it that stood in his way? His unfortunate timidity! He wished to vindicate himself in some way, to assert his manhood."Our protagonist comes back to earth upon him reaching home, facing his wife and being shoved the responsibilities of his child. Indeed it was a little cloud that has passed over his everyday, if dull, yet serene in a sense.
We come across another instance of a man caught in a marriage, but the circumstances are different. Here we come across Farrington, a man clearly too fond of a drop to drink at all hours, to be counted as healthy. We see him going through the day, cutting corners in his job, being smart mouthed, but to his disadvantage. The short story ends with rather a very depressing way, after a night of booze. Farrington taking the stick to his son, to rid his guilty conscience, after spending his money gotten by pawning his chain watch. (Counterparts)
A Nanny, Maria visits her former ward and his family, for tea, taking leave from her current employment. It is clear that Maria is getting on, and forgetful. There is no other family that Maria feels a sense of belonging to. The evening is merry and reminiscent of days gone by. There is also an implicit understanding that Maria may not visit them much longer. The Hallow Eve games hinted of a bad omen for Maria, which everyone was quick to brush away. A touching vignette, which infers more than it narrates.(Clay)
"One of his ( Duffy's) sentences, written two months after his last interview with Mrs. Sinico, read: Love between man and man is impossible because there must not be sexual intercourse and friendship between man and woman is impossible because there must be sexual intercourse. He kept away from concerts lest he should meet her." (A Painful case)What is the painful case here ? Is it that Mr. Duffy cannot return Mrs. Sinico's friendship, given plainly that Mrs. Sinico is lonely, due to his preferences, or the fact that Mrs. Sinico has lost her husband's interest. Another thought provoking read.
Ivy Day in the Committee Room, is a short story based on an election campaign. The camp we see our main characters from, are the Nationalistic lot. It is a story that offers some insight on the Irish political scene then, and a lamentation on Parnell is inevitable. We came across, the moaning of the loss of Parnell, in "The Portrait of the Artiste as a Young Man", with Stephen Dedalus' father being the moaner.
A Mother is one of the short stories I cared for comparatively little for, in this collection. Having said that, the portrait of this particular mother is not wholly uncommon. Vying for an advantage for her child, even at the cost of losing one's face - that of hers' as well as her child's, is not unheard of in many parts of the world.
One of the stories that show the importance of religion in the everyday life of then Dublin, is Grace. A man, possibly far to gone towards the bottle, is attempted a correcting of his ways, by his wife and a few of his friends - in a conspiring way. While again, there are better stories in the collection, it cannot fail to leave a long standing trace of the beliefs and ways of living of the then Dubliners.
The collection concludes with the amazing short story, The Dead. The longest tale here, exceeding over 30 pages, it is a stark revelation of love, and where one's love can be, while another works up himself to a giddy passion, day dreaming or reminiscing. Here, Gabriel is in the throes of passion, watching his wife's countenance.
"While he had been full of memories of their secret life together, full of tenderness and joy and desire, she had been comparing him in her mind with another. A shameful consciousness of his own person assailed him He saw himself as a ludicrous figure..."While reading this collection, I felt as if the portrait of James Joyce, which I could make out in its shape after reading "The Portrait...", was becoming a little more clearer at the borders. It was as if the surroundings were becoming clearer to make me comprehend the times that this great author walked the earth. Too bad I can give only five stars to this collection.
I am now even more enthusiastic, to give another attempt at Ulysses - a project I've had several false starts on, since 2015 June.
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