The Dubliners-a Painful Case

As he sits in his loneliness, Mr Duffy realizes that he has put all of this upon himself from his constant lack of control, his constant routine, and the comfort of being alone. In James Joyces short story of 'A Painful Case', Joyce uses a very unique protagonist. “He had neither companions nor friends, church nor creed. He lived his spiritual life without any communion with others, visiting his relatives at Christmas and escorting them to the cemetery when they died...” (Joyce 63). Mr Duffy is a man that is very set in his own routine and the thought of being off of his routine and not knowing what the outcome scares him. He doesn't know how to live fully because he shuts out people especially Mrs Sinico when he ends the relationship because it is out of his comfort zone. There are many distinct qualities that make him who he is, which are his constant routine, known for isolating himself from the rest of his town and facing death at the end of the story.

Mr Duffy is a boring bank cashier who is very comfortable being alone. “Mr James Duffy lived in Chapelizod because he wished to live as far as possible from the city of which he is a citizen...” (Joyce pg 62) His constant routine of his life is a security blanket for him and keeps all of the feelings out. When going out, Mr Duffy usually goes to the same places, does the same thing, that is until Mrs Sinico comes into the picture. Mrs Sinico is a married woman who starts a friendship with Mr Duffy. “Her husband was captain of a mercantile boat plying between Dublin and Hollan; and they had one child.” (Joyce 63) Being an isolated man, Mrs Sinico changed him in that way. They took walks together and began spending more time together which put Mr Duffy out of routine. “He lent her books, provided

her with ideas, shared his intellectual life with her. She listened to all.” (Joyce 63) After sharing so much with Mrs Sinico, Mr Duffy's hard character begins to soften. When they are in a meeting together Mrs