The Boarding House by James Joyce
It is an interesting story tinged with serious and hilarious undertones. After Mrs. Mooney's (money?) father dies, her husband begins to show his true colors. Now her husband is the owner of the shop. He begins to act differently. Soon the situation turns so bad that Mrs. Mooney is left with no option but to leave him. She begins to live independently with her two children.
By leaving her husband, she shows courage and strength which is further shown in how she goes about living. She is probably hardened by her circumstances (one wonders what a pathetic story it would be, had she continued to live like a victim – a good wife – with her abusive husband). In the real world, she knows the tricks of the trade and rather makes her own to establish herself. She knows when to give credit, when to be stern, and when to let things pass. This makes her the stern Madam.
In order to secure a good living for her children and herself, she acts in a pragmatic manner. To an extent one understands this, but such an attitude has consequences. Right at the start, we see her son, Jack. It is clear what sort of man he will eventually become. Likewise, Polly, the daughter, reveals herself through her ditties, “I'm a ... naughty girl. You needn't sham: You know I am.” She goes on to initiate 'interesting seductions' later as an adult. This is suggested in a mildly humorous tone when Polly, 'a little perverse madonna' goes to Mr. Doran's room, “she wanted to relight her candle at his for hers had been blown out by a gust.”
As the story unfolds, we see a rather darker and comical side of Mrs. Mooney. She hunts for a suitable match for her daughter. Finally, she finds a perfect catch in Mr. Doran who is renting a room in her house. He is serious, responsible, and of a certain age; someone whom she can tame into marriage because he has already slept with her daughter. Confident of her craftiness, Mrs. Mooney knows she will accomplish her mission. She also knows that the public opinion will be on her side if Mr. Doran acts smart with her.
Here she mirrors her own past. In some queer ways, she sets up the same pattern for her daughter that she had lived once. In her prime, she married someone who had worked for her father. Now, she is repeating the same thing for his daughter. Since we do not know how Mrs. Mooney's husband was before the marriage. In the background of this history, one wonders how Mr. Doran will be after he is forced and manipulated into marriage. He might do to Polly what Mrs. Mooney's husband did to her.
The story ends on a Joycean note. Just before Doran goes down to meet Mrs. Mooney – two things happen to him. One, he feels like running away from the situation to a far-off land. Two, more important and Joycean, he thinks about Jack, Polly's rough, hot-headed brother. Here, we also get to know of someone who once alluded to Polly in an indiscreet way. It is not clear what these thoughts meant. Perhaps, Jack evokes fear in him, and the remark of the other guy creates a doubt in his mind concerning Polly's character.
The final scene when Polly is called beacuse Doran wants to speak to her. We have no clue as to what they will talk about. It could be anything from a calm proposal to something unpleasant.
By leaving her husband, she shows courage and strength which is further shown in how she goes about living. She is probably hardened by her circumstances (one wonders what a pathetic story it would be, had she continued to live like a victim – a good wife – with her abusive husband). In the real world, she knows the tricks of the trade and rather makes her own to establish herself. She knows when to give credit, when to be stern, and when to let things pass. This makes her the stern Madam.
In order to secure a good living for her children and herself, she acts in a pragmatic manner. To an extent one understands this, but such an attitude has consequences. Right at the start, we see her son, Jack. It is clear what sort of man he will eventually become. Likewise, Polly, the daughter, reveals herself through her ditties, “I'm a ... naughty girl. You needn't sham: You know I am.” She goes on to initiate 'interesting seductions' later as an adult. This is suggested in a mildly humorous tone when Polly, 'a little perverse madonna' goes to Mr. Doran's room, “she wanted to relight her candle at his for hers had been blown out by a gust.”
As the story unfolds, we see a rather darker and comical side of Mrs. Mooney. She hunts for a suitable match for her daughter. Finally, she finds a perfect catch in Mr. Doran who is renting a room in her house. He is serious, responsible, and of a certain age; someone whom she can tame into marriage because he has already slept with her daughter. Confident of her craftiness, Mrs. Mooney knows she will accomplish her mission. She also knows that the public opinion will be on her side if Mr. Doran acts smart with her.
Here she mirrors her own past. In some queer ways, she sets up the same pattern for her daughter that she had lived once. In her prime, she married someone who had worked for her father. Now, she is repeating the same thing for his daughter. Since we do not know how Mrs. Mooney's husband was before the marriage. In the background of this history, one wonders how Mr. Doran will be after he is forced and manipulated into marriage. He might do to Polly what Mrs. Mooney's husband did to her.
The story ends on a Joycean note. Just before Doran goes down to meet Mrs. Mooney – two things happen to him. One, he feels like running away from the situation to a far-off land. Two, more important and Joycean, he thinks about Jack, Polly's rough, hot-headed brother. Here, we also get to know of someone who once alluded to Polly in an indiscreet way. It is not clear what these thoughts meant. Perhaps, Jack evokes fear in him, and the remark of the other guy creates a doubt in his mind concerning Polly's character.
The final scene when Polly is called beacuse Doran wants to speak to her. We have no clue as to what they will talk about. It could be anything from a calm proposal to something unpleasant.
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