Joyce introduces Jimmy, the main character of “After the Race”, as a member of a group of four exotic young men. By initially presenting him as a member of this “party of four young men,” (30) Joyce elevates him to the same level as the rest, and equal member. In typical Joycian fashion, he then spends the rest of the story tearing down this façade.
Most of the characteristics of the other members of the group illustrate the shortcomings of Irish society. For example, the narrator describes Villona as an “optimist by nature.” (30) Seemingly insignificant, this subtle difference in worldview distances him from all of the Irishmen we have seen throughout the collection who are generally pessimistic or emotionally broken.
Moreover, Jimmy’s upbringing/education is further indicative of Dublin’s paralysis. Coming from the only wealthy Irish family so far in the collection, Jimmy has the opportunity to get an exceptional education. To do this, however, he must ultimately leave the country to go to Cambridge showing Dublin’s intellectual gap from the rest of the world. Interestingly, Jimmy does study law at Dublin University. I am not exactly sure what to make of this though. Joyce could be trying to show that Dublin is not beyond saving insofar as it does have some intellectual institutions that can benefit the entire country. I ultimately do not buy this because it is not in keeping with the other parts of the collection or even this story but I could be convinced otherwise.
Jimmy’s actions in preparation for and at the dinner party were the most telling part of Joyce’s thoughts on the matter at hand. The party became “an occasion” (33) at Jimmy’s house revealing that this was not a regular occurrence. Socialite activities such as a dinner party are apparently foreign to the upper-class within Dublin. I took this as Joyce belittling the Irish wealthy as a faux-aristocracy that overthinks and overhypes what should be a regular occurrence for them. At the dinner party itself, Jimmy spends most of his time essentially in awe of the refinement of his friends as they carry on a conversation with “little reserve,” (33) a sign of an intellectual confidence that Jimmy (and Dublin by extension) lacks. As the conversation shifts to politics, Jimmy starts an ungentlemanly argument that may lead to “personal spite,” (33) again showing a lack of sophistication. More importantly, this argument stems from the fact that Jimmy argues “under generous influences,” (33) presumably the influence of alcohol, and the “zeal of his father.” (33) Even one of the most educated and refined young men Dublin has to offer falls into the same paralytic traps as everyone else: drunkenness and the overbearing influence of the family. By showing the downfall of one of Dublin’s great hopes, Joyce paints a fairly dark image of the future.
Jaime, I'd go a bit further in your description of Villona; I think his purpose in the story is greater than just serving as the optimistic counterpart to the people of Dublin. In the only two instances in which Joyce singles out Villona to describe his mood, it's related to the man's appetite. The first time, right before his optimism is mentioned, Joyce writes that "Villona was in a good humor because he had had a very satisfactory luncheon."(53, Penguin Books Edition) And when at Jimmy's house, it is written that Villona misses the intellectual subtleties of his host because "he was beginning to have a sharp desire for his dinner." (56) These two quotes seem to serve as a way to show Villona as an overly simple man, as if he is a slave to his own appetite. Furthermore, Villona is described as "huge" (52), lending itself to the image of Villona as some hulking animal. So Villona is not just a counterexample to pessimism in Dublin.
ReplyDeleteHe's also the only character continuously identified by his nationality, “the Hungarian”, distancing him from even a name, as if he can be reduced to just his ethnicity. This last could be more of a critique of the others for considering him no more than just a Hungarian. That he's described as "unfortunately very poor" (53) and plays the piano on Farley's yacht while the others smoke and play cards makes him appear subservient to the others, virtually forced into that role by a lower socio-economic status.