Thursday, January 14, 2010
Freddy's Screwed
The passage I chose to write about begins when Freddy Malins is escorted in to the party and ends at the ellipse. I chose this passage because it focuses on drunkness and alcoholism which as we have discussed in class are common stereotypes associated with Irish culture. I wish to examine how Joyced addresses this. When Freddy enters the party he is laughing and "rubbing the knuckles of his fist backwards and forwards into his left eye" as he tells a story to Gabriel. All the characters seem a bit upset by Freddy's drunken antics... but none of them make any serious efforts to subdue him. Aunt Kate simply says how horrible he is and leaves the room with Gabriel. Mr. Browne pours Freddy lemonade and himself whiskey. It seems in this passage that alcohol is condemned in social settings but still readily provided. Freddy is able to act as he pleases despite rebukes from his hosts. Freddy is not obliged to make any efforts to sober up or to drink the lomonade and the passage ends with him again rubbing "the knuckles of his fist backward and forward in to his left eye." This rhetorical device could reflect an opinion of Joyce's that alcoholism among men is a source of stagnation of paralysis in Ireland. Although the women and Gabriel scorn men like Freddy Malins and Mr. Browne for their drunkenness, they still provide them with booze at social functions and make no efforts to break this cycle. And the men are unwilling to alter their old habits.
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Joyce makes a point to write about everything that affects his characters, from the simple greetings to the drunken antics. In doing so, he tells his audience a lot about the culture in Ireland, and even about subcultures that have formed between the east and west sides in "The Dead."
ReplyDeleteIn this particular story, he indicates that alcohol is a significant part of the culture, but he does not suggest that it is "condemned in social settings." The Aunts fear what Freddy will do when he shows up to the party, but once they see him they are relieved that he is not drunk enough to disrupt the party. When Mr. Browne hands Freddy a lemonade, he is not doing so hypocritically, but merely recognizing that the party is not the time or place for being drunk. By handing out alcohol so freely, the characters demonstrate that it is a part of everyday life. However, by frowning upon Freddy, they also show that being drunk, especially at an event with friends and family, is not looked kindly upon by the Irish society.