AFTER THE RACES (KEY THEMES AND QUOTES) Flashcards
What are the main themes in ‘After The Race’
- Money, class and aspiration.
- Paralysis and stagnation
- Colonialism and national identity
- Illusion vs reality
Theme: Money class and aspirations
- Joyce critiques the illusory nature of upward social mobility, performative class aspiration and lack of class conciousness through Jimmy.
- Who represents post-colonial Ireland bourgeouise class who aspire to assimilate within European elite circles and allign with imperial powers, despite being excluded from and exploited by that power.
Key Quote (1)- Money, class and aspiration- Jimmy’s reflections
‘Rapid motion through space elates one; so does notoriety; so does the possession of money’
Free indirect discourse as the narrative here is filtered through Jimmy’s materalism. The tricolon communicates his avaricious nature as he reveres the inverted holy trinity of ‘rapid motion’ ‘notoriety and ‘money’. Joyce uses clinical, elevated lexis here to satrise the tone of rational observation- as the pseudo-comandment to chase ‘money and ‘rapid motion’ falls empty.
Key Quote (2)- Money, class and aspiration- The anticipated dinner
(Jimmy reflects on the dinner anticipated by him and his parents ‘A certain pride mingled with his parents’ trepidation (and) a certain eagerness to play fast and loose for the names of great foreign cities have at least this virtue’
Joyce uses free indirect discourse to subtley mock Jimmy’s parents. The oxymornic tension between ‘pride’/’trepidation’ reveals the precariousness of social mobility and the anxiety that comes as a result of conserving ones status (no matter how diminuative). ‘Play fast and loose’ an intimate dinner turns into class performance. ‘Great foreign cities’ highlights post-colonial inferiority and fetishisiation of imperatial nations.
Key Quote (2)- Money, class and aspiration- the passive spectators
- The Irish spectators are described as ‘gratefully oppressed (cheering on the French cars with) ‘a double measure of welcome’ describing them as ‘virtual victors’
Oxymornic phraseolgy ‘gratefull oppressed’ suggests the Irish mindlessly cheer for their own subjugation. Highlights their false conciousness as the working class/ colonised identify with the success of their opressors (created through exploitation). Marxist reading- Joyce highlights how ideology and class spectacle pacifies the oppressed making them greatful for the very systems that oppress them.
What is class spectacle/ bread and circuses? and how does this allow the ruling classes to maintain cultural hegemony?
- Refers to how the ruling classes pacify the masses by offering distractions/entertainment, instead of improving material conditions. Entertainment can be used to normalise class heirachy and keep ppl emotioanlly invested in a system that exploits them.
‘Virtual victors’ the cultural event is mythologies by the Dubliners, representing the way they buy into capitalist cultural hegemony.
How does Joyce explore the theme of paralysis and stagnation?
- Though the story is full of movement, Jimmy (representing post-colonial Ireland) remains emotionally, socially and culturally stagnant.
- The illusions of grandosity are romanticed but simply mask the reality of stasis.
- The failure in card game symbolises the existential entrapment of the Irish (even when they appear to be progressing)
Key Quote (1)- Paralysis and stagnation
“Through this channel of poverty and inaction, the Continent sped its wealth and industry.”
Juxtaposition and irony- the ‘channel’ represents a passive, impoverished and stagnant Ireland. The ‘Continent’ represents European capitalist powers, who symbolically drive over Ireland with their wealth and modernity: Suggesting a neocolonial relationship where foreign powers exploit Ireland as a backdrop/throughway. Passivity- Ireland merely observers wealth pass by. Joyce diagnoses this ‘poverty’ as a result of ‘inaction’ against the Continent.
Key Quote (2)- Paralysis and stagnation
‘He wishes they would stop, it was getting late’
‘He leaned his elbows on the table and rested his head between his hands, counting the beats of his temples.’
‘wish’ connotes internal longing and entrapment and symbolises the passive, unheard wish of all the Dubliners, who are paralysed to circumstances. It is the wishful prayer of Gallagher’s son in Counterparts who meekly offers a ‘Hail Mary’ to his father as much as its the futile wish of Jimmy who faces the quite violence of the imperial powers.The motif of wishes and prayers cement Joyce’s idea that God has foresaken Ireland a morally bankrupt, aimless ireland
How does Joyce explore the theme of colonialism and national identity?
Key quote (1)- colonialism and national identity- Jimmy’s father
His father, who had begun life as an advanced Nationalist, had modified his views early… made his money as a butcher… secured some of the police contracts…”
Key Qoute (2)- Colonisation and national idenity
The Frenchmen flung their laughter… Jimmy had to strain forward… had to make a deft guess… and shout back…”
How does Joyce explore the theme of illusion vs reality?
Jimmy’s illusions collapses and the narrative ends on a note of subtle but devastating disillusionment.
This emotional come-down mirrors the wider disillusionment of Joyce’s Dubliners: the realisation that ambition, romance, or escape is often hollow
Key quote (1) illusion vs reality
Jimmy… conceived the lively youth of the Frenchmen twined elegantly upon the firm framework of the Englishman’s manner
Key quote (2) Illusion vs reality
Jimmy felt obscurely the lack of an audience: the wit was flashing.
(said during the card game)
