Notes on Dubliners

Two Gallants

· The opening paragraph, links this story to After the Race. Both stories have to do with disappointed expectations, manipulation, vicarious experience, feigned intimacy and money.

· August evening, but it is described as a memory of summer.

· 2 young men.

· Lenehan echoes the character of Doyle in the previous text. He is a follower, relying for his excitement on the experiences of others.

· Yachting cap links the two stories, also.

· Lenehan uses flattery and a vast stock of stories, limericks and riddles to survive. A comment on the task of the writer. This text is a vast stock of stories, there are also quirky endings producing humour as with limericks (esp this story) and the text is loaded with riddles.

· Lenehan considered a leech – a freeloader.

· Corley picks up women for casual sex. Lenehan uses flattery constantly to keep Corley talking.

· Corley uses women sexually, but, more importantly, to get cigarettes, etc. No name –no responsibility.

· Corley also involved with plainclothes police.

· Lenehan uses mockery – unable to maintain servility. Joyce is inviting us to look for clues in the implications of the dialogue.

· Corley lacks a subtle mind. Another indication that we need to understand the subtleties of the text if we are to understand it.

· Slavey- a servant girl. A derogatory term.

· Used to take girls out with intention of seduction. Had sex with one “good girl” – now she’s a prostitute. Unwillingness to consider the consequences of personal behaviour on others.

· Excuses his behaviour by saying others had had her.

· The harp being played in the street is described in feminine terms – heedless that her coverings had fallen about her knees…weary alike of the eyes of strangers and of her master’s hands. This last description is very apt for many of the women in this text.

· The music is mournful.

· Meeting with woman – Lenehan watching and following. The build up has suggested that the purpose is sexual, and that Lenehan will be involved.

· Woman’s clothing – Sunday finery. Clothing reveals poor circumstances – a ragged black boa.

· The swinging of the umbrella and inclination of the head echo the girl in Araby.

· Woman plain. Her facial expression is a leer: a lustful expression usually associated with male characters.

· Description of woman as a product/ object.

· Poor person’s food

· 31 years old, unemployed.

· Desire for house and family.

· Embittered

· Desires a “simple minded girl with a little of the ready”. This attitude paralyses him from achieving his real desire for family.

· Anticipation – wonders if Corley has “managed it successfully”

· Follows girl and Corley

· Did you try her?

· Gold coin – not sex the object of the evening

· Money valued over intimacy

· Humor results from disappointed expectations

· This story has definite links with p121, The Dead.