The Boarding House
Jones 1
ENG 102
16 August 2014
“The Boarding House” written by James Joyce has many different types of characters among it. What often is a reader's first impression of each character is not always the true character as seen throughout this story. Actions reveal a person's true character as will be seen throughout the short story. Characterization is imperative in creating an engaging novel. The focus of this paper will be on two of the main characters and the initial and final reaction towards the characters. The story begins with Mrs. Mooney. From the start of the text she is described as a “butcher's daughter” (Joyce 413). The author portrays Mrs. Mooney as being “a very determined woman” (Joyce 413). To a certain extent that is true. At the start of the story it is apparent that her marriage is over. Joyce portrays Mooney's husband as an abuser stating “ he went for his wife with a meat cleaver and she had to sleep in a neighbor's house” (413). After reading that quote one would feel sorry for Mrs. Mooney as if she was a poor, pitiful and helpless victim. As the next paragraph begins it states more of the real Mrs. Mooney. After kicking her husband out and getting a divorce she also took everything the marriage had acquired. Mr. Mooney was left with nothing but the clothes on his back. Afterward he was not even allowed to visit or speak with his children. Mrs. Mooney sent her daughter to be a “typist Jones 2
in a corn-factors' office” (Joyce 414) but as soon as she received word that her ex-husband was repeatedly visiting the office she made Polly, her daughter, come home and “set her to do housework”(Joyce 414). After divorcing, Mrs' Mooney opened up a boarding house which consisted of men from all over. She “governed her house cunningly and firmly, knew when to give credit, when to be stern and when to let things pass” (Joyce 414). All the resident young men
ENG 102
16 August 2014
“The Boarding House” written by James Joyce has many different types of characters among it. What often is a reader's first impression of each character is not always the true character as seen throughout this story. Actions reveal a person's true character as will be seen throughout the short story. Characterization is imperative in creating an engaging novel. The focus of this paper will be on two of the main characters and the initial and final reaction towards the characters. The story begins with Mrs. Mooney. From the start of the text she is described as a “butcher's daughter” (Joyce 413). The author portrays Mrs. Mooney as being “a very determined woman” (Joyce 413). To a certain extent that is true. At the start of the story it is apparent that her marriage is over. Joyce portrays Mooney's husband as an abuser stating “ he went for his wife with a meat cleaver and she had to sleep in a neighbor's house” (413). After reading that quote one would feel sorry for Mrs. Mooney as if she was a poor, pitiful and helpless victim. As the next paragraph begins it states more of the real Mrs. Mooney. After kicking her husband out and getting a divorce she also took everything the marriage had acquired. Mr. Mooney was left with nothing but the clothes on his back. Afterward he was not even allowed to visit or speak with his children. Mrs. Mooney sent her daughter to be a “typist Jones 2
in a corn-factors' office” (Joyce 414) but as soon as she received word that her ex-husband was repeatedly visiting the office she made Polly, her daughter, come home and “set her to do housework”(Joyce 414). After divorcing, Mrs' Mooney opened up a boarding house which consisted of men from all over. She “governed her house cunningly and firmly, knew when to give credit, when to be stern and when to let things pass” (Joyce 414). All the resident young men