Untitled

Tatjana Bicjutko. Dþ. Konora jaunie dublinieði: Îrijas literârâs tradîcijas pçctecîba
217
The next story The Wizard of Oz closely resembles A Little Cloud by Joyce, in
respect that it juxtaposes a boastful successful former Dubliner and the narrator, who
has not become ‘former’ yet and is trying to make his first steps in that direction. The
deviation from the traditional pattern here lies in the complete lack of sympathy towards
the young nipple (here nipple, a witty abbreviation instead of yuppie, stands
for a New Irish Professional Person in London) by the name of Ed. We cannot say
that Joyce makes the reader sympathize with Gallaher, but he makes his character less
repellent for the reader.
The main character, Dave, is evidently not a survivor in new circumstances. The
feelings of humiliation and unreality incite him to commit a petit crime, the act which
makes one think that he is subconsciously eager to be caught; eventually his protest
bursts out in open hooliganism barring all the possibilities to stay in London.
The story Phantom immediately provokes comparison to The Dead; even the title
seems to be a periphrasis. An evening two pairs spend together reveals the breach
between present and former Dubliners. Pete and Maria come home to Dublin for a
few days, “just to say hello,” 22 and pay a visit to Jimmy and his new, by the time
being, pregnant girlfriend Coral. All the ‘traditional’ things are there: excessive drink,
talk of politics and nostalgia for the past,
We’re talking about the old days. We’re talking about all the people who’ve
gone away now. We think it’s sad, the way people have to go away from
here to do anything. Jimmy says we just don’t care in this country. We treat
people like sheep, then we’re surprised when they bleat. 23
Finally Maria tells a story which she is always telling when drunk. “She’s very
sentimental. She thinks about the past too much. Always this story too.” 24 The constant
negotiating with the past on both communal and personal level discloses the
indestructible ties of former Dubliners to their previous living space.
The rough argument arising in the end can be explained away by alcoholic intoxication,
“’It’s just a love affair,’ Jimmy sighs, ‘us Irish and drink…” 25 , or some
secrets and lies; however, interpreted symbolically, it demonstrates a lack of communication
between the past and the present. When Pete blames Jimmy that he will never
change, the latter responds: “I hope not, Pete,’ he says. ‘I’ll leave all that to you.’” 26
One more peculiarity strikes the attentive reader, and that is Maria’s bareness.
Catriona, another female character in Mothers Were All the Same, came to London to
make an abortion which could be interpreted as a symbolical entrance fee. Besides,
the theme of sterility enters the story Glass Houses as well. These evidences evoke
the association with animals who cannot breed in an alien environment. Notwithstanding
how primitively behavioristic it seems to be, this way of interpretation emphasizes
that former Dubliners forever stay connected to their native land and alien to
any new place of living. Unless, of course, they do not change themselves.
Refusal of ‘Irishness’ is shown as corruption in the book. Thus Shirley, a minor
character, “trying to make it as a model” 27 pretentiously “was no good at all for Irish
names. She really regretted it, actually, specially since she moved over here [to London],
but she couldn’t speak a word of Irish.” 28 An attempt at mimicry based on the
model of the former colonial subject is self–evident.