- James Joyce (1882-1941)
Mrs Mooney and her husband had a butcher’s shop
where they sold meat. After his father-in-law’s death, Mr Mooney drank a lot of
alcohol and spent all their money. He would fight with his wife in front of
customers. One night, he chased her with a big knife. So, Mrs Mooney left her
husband, sold the butcher’s shop and started a boarding house.
Polly, Mrs Mooney’s daughter, worked at the
boarding house. She was nineteen years old. Many young men used to live in the
boarding house. Mr Doran was one of them. He had a love affair with Polly. Mrs
Mooney knew this, but, at first, she pretended not to know anything. She wanted
her daughter to marry Mr Doran. Finally, when the right time came, Mrs Mooney
interfered.
Mrs Mooney decided that Mr Doran should marry her
daughter. If he didn’t become ready to marry her daughter, she would publicize
about the relationship in the society and he would probably lose his job.
Everyone would know about Mr Doran’s immoral deeds. She was almost sure that he
would prefer marriage with Polly to the loss of his job.
But Mr Doran did not want to marry Polly. His
family would not accept her because she wasn’t educated. She could not speak
English correctly. But he knew the bad consequences of not marrying Polly.
Therefore, he was worried. He had already done a mistake by having relationship
with her. The society would certainly find his fault in it.
When she was sure Mr Doran had no other option than
to marry her daughter, Mrs Mooney decided to talk to him. The readers do not
hear their conversation, but are hinted that Mr Doran is, at last, ready to
marry Polly.
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