A Mother Like No Others?

The “Mother,” Mrs. Kearney, unlike some protagonists in Joyce’s earlier stories, appears capable, strong-willed and focused. She appears to rise above the other Dubliners, and certainly thinks of herself as superior to others (she was schooled in elite subjects like French and music).  She delays marriage, waiting for a worthy husband to come along, but finally when no faced with no better choice, she marries “out of spite” (113), to keep up appearances.  This detail suggests that she may not be all that she appears to be.  Still, she can manage her household, she has a grip on her life, and she is in control of her daughter’s musical career.  However, her “control” over her daughter, as the story shows, proves that she is over-controlling, overbearing and antagonizing.  In pursuit of her daughter’s career, she acts as manager for her daughter (also trained in French and music) and enlists her as top billing in a concert featuring Irish revival themes.  Mrs. Kearney ventures outside her domestic duties and interacts disastrously with the male organizers of the Eire Abu (“Ireland Forever”) society.  

Eire Abu Banner

The men in that business situation try to meet her demands, but cannot deliver a full house for four nights, are distracted by their own pursuits (drinking and flirting with women, rather than putting an ad in the Freeman’s Journal to advertise the final performance (121)) and thus are unable to pay Katherine Kearney (the daughter) in advance.  

The Freeman's Journal

Joyce voices his displeasure with all these characters by highlighting their flaws, and suggesting that the Irish revival movement (represented by Mr. Fitzpatrick. Mr. Holohan and Mr. Madden-Burke) itself cannot deliver culture for Ireland.  The house will be empty.

Kathleen Kearney also cannot deliver for the concert or Ireland.  Her controlling mother, Mrs. Kearney, forces her to walk out when she is not paid in advance in full.  The daughter meekly obeys her mother, and proves that neither is a Cathleen ni Houlihan ready to serve Ireland.  Ironically, the “strong” woman, Mrs. Kearney, undermines the Irish revival concert.  That she had formerly been “Miss Devlin” (113), an echo of Anne Devlin, a hero of Robert Emmett’s failed 1803 Uprising, who in many ways parallels Mrs. Kearney.  Mrs. Kearney literally served her daughter by arranging her musical career, and Anne Devlin served the Uprising.  Anne shipped supplies from Dublin to Butterfield lane to help the revolutionary cause.  Both cases comment on the failed nationalistic enterprises.  Both try and fail.  Mrs. Kearney has been banned from the public platform because of what she believes is justice (a fair wage for her daughter).  Like her historical counterpart who participates in a failed revolution, she seeks justice but is ultimately condemned for standing up to it.  Joyce’s story questions the motivations driving both women.