Nice Girls Finish Last (... or Die First)

Although "Clay" has a third person narration, much of the prose seems to reflect the actual thoughts of Maria.  Similar to "Eveline," the diction is overtly simplistic, which fits the story's relative lack of action.  Joyce makes clear that Maria’s thoughts are uncomplicated and gentle, using “nice” to describe her own physical appearance, the evening, and often Joe’s actions toward her.  Undoubtedly, Maria is a “nice” woman.  She finds little fault in the other characters, acts as a peacemaker, and is “delighted” by many of the night’s simple pleasures.

However, this characterization goes further than crafting a placid woman.  Instead, Joyce emphasizes the limits of her consciousness.  Literally her consciousness fails her as she repeats the first verse, not even realizing her blunder. Moreover, the blindfolded game embodies her lack of sight that leads her to symbolically choosing an early death.  

With a closer read, there’s some sense of Maria as perhaps mentally challenged.  The way people treat her is strikingly benevolent as “Everyone was so fond of Maria.”   Furthermore, lines like “Maria had cut them [the slices of bread] herself” sounds like praise for completing a simple task.  Coupled with her outbursts of emotion (“she nearly cried outright”) with trivial matters, Joyce portrays Maria as slightly mentally incapacitated for a woman of her age. 

It’s relatively unimportant whether or not Maria is “mentally challenged” by standards then or today.  What’s interesting is Joyce’s misogynistic treatment of women throughout the collection and statement on how Dublin thinks.  Some previous characters are remarkably aware of their surroundings.  Others, like Maria, seem constrained to thinking in childish ways. 

 It is, of course, good to be nice.  But what does Joyce imply when a nice woman picks an the symbol of an early death? Is Joyce critiquing the others' tolerant and kind treatment of Maria? She ultimately chooses a prayer-book in the game, indicating her future with the Church. If Maria is a representation of an ignorance of Dublin, is Joyce may critiquing the Catholic Church?