COUNTERPARTS (KEY THEMES) Flashcards
Key Themes
- Maladaptive coping stategies/escapism (alcohol/daydreaming
- Paralysis/ impotence
- Wrath
- Cycle of abuse
- Futility
- Religion
How is the theme of religion explored in ‘Counterparts’?
- Religion is represented as an ineffectual and impotent force that fails to make a real difference in the spirtual life of the Dubliners.
What quotes higlight the theme of Religion in ‘Counterparts’
- “She’s at the Chapel”
- “Dont beat me, pa! and I’ll say a Hail Mary for you”
The mother’s attendance at the ‘chapel’ rather than acting as a buffer between her husbands drunken rage and her innocent child- the mother’s failure and absence refects the Church’s failure in protecting the innocent and absence in the spirtual lives.
The absence of divine intervention by any Saint/ God suggest God has forsaken a spirtually corrupt Ireland.
What is a ‘hail Mary’?
- Also known as ‘Angelic Salvation”
- A traditional Catholic prayer and petition to Mary for salvation.
(The saint prayers FOR the individuall)
How is theme of futility explored in Counterparts?
- Farrigton’s attempt to assert control repeatedly fail. His desire for rebellion at work, search for masculine validation, nationalist pride all backfire. Highlighting the cyclical, inescapble nature of his life.
He fails as a worker, man, nationalist and father-
He even fails in his rage in some ways as it does not reach its intended subject.
What quote highlights the theme of futility in ‘Counterparts’?
- “He was full of smoldering anger and revengefulness…..he did not even feel drunk; and he had only twopence in his pocket”
How is the theme of wrath explored in ‘Counterparts’?
- Joyce highlights the destructive capacity of wrath through Farrigton and ironically underscores that even anger (active emotion) is not enough to overcome paralysis. (individual action is futile against titans of oppression- Church/Colonisation)
- Wrath is a repressed reaction to his powerlessness and impotence in life.
- He displaces his wrath onto his son, bartender- His moments of anger are false moments of conciousness.
What quote highlights the theme of wrath?
“The man stared fixedly at the polished skull gauging its fragility. A spasm of rage gripped his throat for a few moments and then (left a) sharp sensation of thirst.”
Impersonal noun/metaphor
How is theme of ‘cyclical abuse’ explored?
- Joyce explored the idea of reactive abuse through the power dymanic between Farrigton and his boss
- Farrington simply responds and internalizes the anger and disdain of his superiors
How is the theme of maladapative coping mechanism/escapism explored?
- Psychoanalysis- he’s ruled/ paralysed by immidate gratification (id)
- Self-perpetuating loop- of alchol that offers brief respite, but reinforces his inability to change his circumstances.
- Symbolises broader cultural malaise- how individuals in a stagnant, opressive society adopt destructive habits to cope with their collective impotence.
What quote highlights the theme of maldaptive habits/escapism?
- His face is described as “the colour of dark wine or dark meat”
- “He felt his great body aching for the comfort of the public-house”
How is theme of paralysis explored in ‘Counterparts’?
- Farrington is paralysed by his exploitative work, legacy of colonalism, cultural stagantion, resulting in idlness, maladaptive habits, impotence and anger.
What quote highlights the theme of paralysis in ‘Counterparts’?
‘ He continued to stare stupidly at the last words he had written’
highlights paralysis, as he feels he is unable to act productively suggesting a sense of learned helplessness or internalised failure from his abusive boss
Modernism- ‘Counterparts’
- Inner-monologues and stream-of-conciousness style reveals unconcious feelings.
- Highlights focus on psychological realism.
“He was full of soldering anger and revengefulness. He felt humiliated and discontented; he did not even feel drunk; and he had only twopence in his pocket”
Marxist criticism in ‘Counterparts’?
- Explores predatory bosses, class exploitation, alienation.
- His paralysis is symptomatic of capitalism.
- False conciousness/ class struggle externalises violence onto false subjects (his son) rather than true opressors.
Fredric Jameson: “All literary works are symbolic acts situated within the class struggle.”
Post-colonial criticism in ‘Counterparts’?
- Through Farrignton, Ireland is represented as colonised and powerless.
- Drinking Culture as Colonial Legacy – The emphasis on alcohol as an escape can be read as a byproduct of British colonial control, where systemic oppression led Irish men to seek relief in self-destructive behaviors instead of political rebellion.
Existentialism- ‘Counterparts’?
- Farrington is trapped in a meaningless cycle of work, pub, and abuse.
- Sartre – “Man is condemned to be free” — Farrington denies true change and freedom instead choosing repetition (a failure of existential agency)
Archetypal/Myth criticism
- Farrington= Tyrant father arcehtype.
- In classical mythology, the father is powerful and authoratative–however these ideals are subverted (reflects disortions in the modern era)
- Farrington= Failed hero
“On that fire! You let the fire out! By God, I’ll teach you to do that again!” -
What quotes highlight the cycle of abuse?
*“The tirade continued: It was so bitter and violent that the man could hardly restrain his fist from descending upon the head of the manakin before him”
* “I’ll teach you to let the fire out”
“I’ll teach you to let the fire out”
Transferred epithet- he hates his own vulnerability thus seeks to beat it out of his son, thus this lesson is one of toxic masculinity and survival.
How is Farrington’s office a panoptic space?
it functions like a panopticon, where he is constantly observed and criticized, especially by Mr. Alleyne. This enforces conformity and suppresses individuality.
effect-He internalizes authority and shame, feeling powerless at work, his leads him to seek control through drinking and violence at home.
Joseph Lacombe- Counterparts & The Panoptic Gaze
- Eager to shun the panoptic gaze of his superior…..Farrington shirks his responsibilities in the cellular confines of his office space to what he deems more comfortable spaces of obscurity: dimly lit pubs, alleys, and crowded streets’
