James Joyces Dubliners - Anger and Misery in Counterparts Essay exampl

Dubliners - Anger and Misery in CounterpartsIf one history in Dubliners can be singled emerge for its overly disturbing qualities, and then Counterparts would be it. In this story the reader witnesses the misery that people in Dublin pass on to separately other and through generations. Joyce introduces us to a character that at first is mildly amusing. Farrington is a project man that, like so many others, has to put up with communicative abuse from his boss. At first it is comical to watch him outline his speech communication he will give to his friends about how he wittily insulted his boss. However, we short learn that he is a actually angry man with foolishness risk of infectionously building up with no acceptable outlet. Where the anger stems from is very important. As we learn he has no queen, no sense of current self. He is mentally paralyzed, one symbolic man, representing Dublin for Joyce. And the inherent danger for this paralysis is demonstrated at the shockin g and terribly disturbing ending. jump though we see the rage that he built up during his day. though not shown, undoubtedly this rage has been building in him over years. A spasm of rage gripped his throat for a few moments and then passed, deprivation after it a sharp sensation of thirst (Joyce 87). It is rather diaphanous what it leaves him thirsty for. Despite (or rather because) of the urgency to finish his work he sneaks out of the affair for a drink. This business of leaving to drink is not in response to stress, we learn it is a compulsive habit. When returning to the office Farrington is asked where he was. He does not answer, but the questioning clerk does for him I lie with that game, he said. Five times in one day is a little bit... (Joyce 89). Exacerbating the idea of a powerless man is the iron... ...o each other. Farrington and Mr. Alleyne are physical opposites, yet they complete the picture of a paralyzed, nonadaptive Dublin. Mr. Alleyne can not treat Farring ton as another human being, Farrington is a machine, a means to production. Farrington can not get any power over Mr. Alleyne despite his physical advantage. His counterpart, his complement is to drink and beat his frustrations out of himself using his son. His unfortunate son is the counterpart to his fathers anger. A perverse release necessary if Farrington is to have a semblance of sanity. Works Cited and ConsultedJoyce, James. Dubliners. Penguin Books New York, 1975. Tindall, William York. A Readers Guide to James Joyce. Noonday Press New York, 1959. Walzl, Florence L. Dubliners. A feller Study to James Joyce. Ed. Zack Bowen and James F. Carens. Greenwood Press London, 1984