IVY DAY IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM By Connor Ericson and Jennifer Akosa.
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Transcript of IVY DAY IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM By Connor Ericson and Jennifer Akosa.
IVY DAYIN THECOMMITTEEROOM
By Connor Ericson and Jennifer Akosa
Preliminary• What is Ivy Day?
• The anniversary of the death of the 19th century Irish politician Charles Parnell regarded for his achievement of Home Rule, as opposed to submission to foreign rulers.
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cwpbh.03648
• German Mornarch/ Edward Rex • The German monarch at this time included Edward Rex, better known as King Edward VII. He ruled over Ireland and Great Britain during the early 1900s.
• Hynes: “The working-man is not going to drag the honor of Dublin in the mud to please a German monarch.” (123)
• Nationalist • Henchy and O'Connor work for the Nationalist candidate named Tierney. This party stood for Irish Independence
• O’Connor: "Our man won't vote for the address...He goes in on the Nationalist ticket.”(123)
• The Conservatives, however, desired to remain tied to England
• Castle Hacks: Spies/Informants
http://bbc.uk
Plot• Old Jack and Mat O’Connor sit
by a fire in the Nationalist Party committee room and discuss Old Jack’s misguided, unruly 19 year old son
• John Henchy then enters and discusses business with O’Connor before also expressing dissatisfaction with Tierney
• Joe Hynes enters and begins to discuss politics with the two men, casting aspersions on Richard Tierney, and praising the deceased ruler, Parnell (calls Tierney “Tricky Dicky Tierney”)
• After Hynes leaves, Henchy tells O’Connor that he thinks Hynes is spying on them for the other candidate, Colgan
• Father Keon then enters, but quickly leaves in search of Mr. Fanning (business matter)
• Henchy explains to O’Connor and Old Jack that the Father is considered a “black sheep” and isn’t tied to any specific church or institution
Plot• Henchy then moves the
conversation back to politics, saying he wishes he could be a city father so that he could have corrupt politicians pay him for his vote
• Two more canvassers enter, Lyons and Crofton, and the 5 begin to debate whether they should receive the foreign king, Edward, warmly or not
• Shortly after a teenage boy arrives with drinks and, after getting a corkscrew, the three drink and Henchy discusses the work he did that day
• Henchy says the coming of the king will bring money to Dublin and therefore benefit the city but others disagree
Conversation moves to the deceased leader Parnell, who is respected by all now that he is dead
• Hynes is spotted in the doorway, is asked to enter and told to read the piece he wrote about Parnell
• After reciting it he receives applause from everyone in the room
Setting Nationalist Party committee room on Wicklow Street
Raining, cold, dark and dismal outside
“The walls of the room were bare except for a copy of an election address. In the middle of the room was a small table on which papers were heaped.” (122)
Plain and business-oriented
Paints another depressing, dark picture of Dublin
Characters Old Jack
Caretaker of the committee room
Described as a bony, hairy, old looking man
Struggling to control his drunk 19 year old son
Feels that, “…the working class should be represented…” and therefore dislikes Tierney (123)
Generally quiet throughout the story
Mat O’Connor
“…a grey-haired young man, whose face was disfigured by many blotches and pimples…” (119)
Canvasser for Richard Tierney
Upset about not getting paid by Tierney yet “I hope to God he’ll not leave us in
the lurch to-night.” (122)
Wears ivy leaf to commemorate passing of Parnell
Initially sympathetic toward Tierney, but realizes the corrupt nature of the man throughout the story “Our man won’t vote for the
address…He goes on the Nationalist ticket.” (123)
“There’s some deal on in that quarter…I saw the three of them hard at it yesterday at Suffolk Street corner.” (129)
Characters Joe Hynes
“He was a tall slender young man with a light brown moustache.” (121)
Wears ivy leaf to commemorate Parnell
Expresses dissatisfaction with Tierney, calling him, “Tricky Dicky Tierney” (123)
Favors working class candidate Colgan “The working man is not going to
drag the honour of Dublin in the mud to please a German monarch.” (123)
Suspected of being a spy for another camp by Henchy
Strong supporter of former ruler Parnell “He fell as fall the mighty ones,/
Nobly undaunted to the last,/ And death has now united him/ With Erin heroes of the past.” (137)
John Henchy
Described as a, “bustling little man” (123)
Highly critical of Tierney’s tactics “O, he’s as tricky as they make
‘em…” (124)
“You must owe the City Fathers money nowadays if you want to be made Lord Mayor. Then they’ll make make you Lord Mayor.” (129)
Suspicious of Hynes’ motives, despite O’Connor’s insistence that he is a good man
Opinion of Tierney changes quickly once the beer arrives “Ah, well, he’s not so bad after
all. He’s as good as his word, anyhow.” (130)
Minor Characters Teenage Boy
Brings the men drinks, retrieves the corkscrew, and drinks a bottle of beer despite being underage
Father Keon
enters but then quickly leaves to seek out Fanning and discuss a business matter
Mr. Fanning
Associate of Tierney
Crofton
conservative canvasser working for Tierney after conservative party withdrew their man from the race
Considers himself above everyone else because he is a conservative
Lyons
Young, frail canvasser for Tierney
Themes Corruption
The men make it clear that they are canvassing for the money
Henchy is suspicious of Hynes and says he thinks he is spying for Colgan
Father Keon says he needs to attend to a business matter with Mr. Fanning
Henchy thinks Tierney is bribing people to get their votes
Alcohol Men long for alcohol throughout the entire story
Henchy says, “I asked that little shoeboy (Tierney) three times…would he send up a dozen of stout.” (128-129)
Show more concern for their drinks than for Tierney
Disappointment Old Jack is disappointed in the way his son has been raised
All men are disappointed at the state of politics in Dublin and disappointed that their former leader Parnell has died
CONFLICT
The Nationalist politicians are waiting for their payment from Politician Tierney in a room with men of an opposing party and opposing views in general (as far as we know, they had not received the money even up until the end) Opposition:
“O he's as tricky as they make 'em," said Mr. Henchy. "He hasn't got those little pigs' eyes for nothing. Blast his soul!” (124).
“The Death of Parnell”
1 He is dead. Our Uncrowned King is dead. O, Erin, mourn with grief and woe For he lies dead whom the fell gang Of modern hypocrites laid low. He lies slain by the coward hounds
8 He fell as fall the mighty ones, Nobly undaunted to the last,
And death has now united him With Erin's heroes of the past.
11 The day that brings us Freedom's reign. And on that day may Erin well Pledge in the cup she lifts to Joy One grief—the memory of Parnell.
CLIMAX
• “Mr. Hynes did not seem to remember at once the piece to which they were alluding,…” (136)
“Mr. Hynes hesitated a little longer. Then amid the silence he took off his hat, laid it on the table and stood up. He seemed to be rehearsing the piece in his mind” (136)
Joe Hynes reads his poem entitled “The Death of Parnell”
Possible Castle Hack
VIncompetent Politician
Hynes finishes reading the poem and the men each take the briefest moment of silence to think. The contentious atmosphere instantly begins
to dissipate.
“When he had finished his recertification there was a silence and then a burst of clapping: even Mr. Lyons clap.” (138).
TURNING POINT
SYMBOLISM
The Priest (Father Keon) “The unholy mixture of religion and politics
in Ireland.” (Fairhall 90) Stood in the doorway, not daring to come in.
“No, no, no!” (127).
The Late Charles Stuart Parnell; Ivy sprig worn on lapels “Mr. Hynes took off his hat, shook it and then
turned down the collar of his coat, displaying, as he did so, an ivy leaf in the lapel” (123)
The death of Ireland’s chances for restoration; Home Rule/Irish Independence
I R O N Y
All corrupt hypocrites; Most of time is spent criticizing others. When one man leaves the room, they immediately begin to gossip
about him
“[They denounce] political institutions in general and a wide range of political figures from Edward VII to Tierney himself in particular” (Gillepsie, 113)
Charles Parnell is a hero and idealized by all canvassers present; however he did NOT die a noble death. Hynes: “If this man was alive," he said, pointing to the leaf, "we'd
have no talk of an address of welcome.” (123)
Old Jack: “Musha, God be with them times!...There was some life in it then.”(123)
“He lies slain by the coward hounds
He raised to glory from the mire”(136)
His death was not the end of all good, but the beginning of corruption as he had cheated on his wife for several years before dying
The title: “Ivy Day”!… “in the Committee Room”? This day was meant to be a day of Celebration and rallying;
however, “their actual efforts to secure votes often consist of little more than sitting by the fire all day.”(Gillepsie 113)
Tierney (TYRANNY) is the leader of the Irish Independence order. Things could not be more out of order; on top of everything, Tierney
never even showed up!
Relation to other storiesThe Sisters
Father Keon and Father Flynn were both questionable religious figures
Father Flynn had lost his mind and couldn’t handle the duties required by priesthood
Father Keon was considered a “black sheep”-he had no connection with any specific church or institution
“The Sisters” & “Ivy Day”OLD COTTER
having "little beady black eyes” (2)
Stunted conversation between Old Cotter and uncle Jack
"let a young lad run about and play with young lads of his own age and not be…” (3)
OLD JACK
“moist blue eyes blinked at the fire” (119)
Continuing Conversation between Old Jack and Mr. O’Connor “Ah yes, it's hard to know
what way to bring up children. Now who'd think he'd turn out like that! I sent him to the Christian Brothers and I done what I could for him, and there he goes boorsing about.” (120)
Allusion?
Christian Brothers to Father Rourke/Father Flynn.
**Old Cotter did not approve of the relationship between the fairly young narrator and the priest.
“No, I wouldn't say he was exactly... but there was something queer... there was something uncanny about him. I'll tell you my opinion….” (2)
Relation to other stories Two Gallants
Corrupting power of money
Corley uses a woman to get money from her employer
O’Connor, Henchy, Lyons, and Crofton work to secure votes for Tierney, even though they don’t particularly like him
A Little Cloud Continuous disappointment
Little Chandler is disappointed that he is stuck where he is: He wishes he could be out of Dublin, getting more out of his life
All the men in this novel are constantly disappointed—they are disappointed with the state of politics in Dublin, the fact that their once great leader is deceased, and in the short term are upset that they don’t have drinks or money from Tierney
PARALYSIS
Since the very beginning of the book, Old Cotter/Old Jack has been sitting by the fire.
Old Cotter as “sitting at the fire, smoking” (1)
"OLD JACK raked the cinders together with a piece of cardboard and...he set himself to fan the fire again” Rarely moves, almost as if
he suffers from actual paralysis.
“stumbling about the room” (121)
“stagnant”, unable to change
PARALYSIS
POLITICS
“The Death of Parnell”
Stanza 8• End of an honest Ireland.
• Ireland is STUCK
• No one capable of restoring Ireland to her former glory.
• Corruption has prevailed, and will continue to prevail due to the endless cycle of paralysis
• INACTION: The fate of Ireland
A bunch of grown men sitting around all day gossiping and drinking stout?
“The men freely admit that their personal political views cover a broad spectrum, and that they’re motivated by little more than the promise of financial gain.”(Gillepsie, 113)
Independence? Not likely!
8
He fell as fall the mighty ones,
Nobly undaunted to the last,
And death has now united him
With Erin's heroes of the past.
PARALYSIS
Gnomon Wages
“Anyway, I wish he’d [Tierney] turn up with the spondulics” (123)
Like the politicians waiting for money, Ireland is waiting on something that will never come
Fire “A denuded roomcame into
view and the fire lost its cheerful colour.” (122)
Prententious nature; Politics: missing Sincerity
Simony
The Priest (Father Keon)
“The unholy mixture of religion and politics in Ireland.” (Fairhall 90)
Discussion Questions
1. Based on what we know of Dublin at the time, do you think it would be beneficial to greet the foreign king warmly?
2. How do you think the men would have reacted if Tierney won the race? What would they have done?
3. Do you think Hynes is spying for Colgan (Castle Hack) or do you believe that he is a good man who merely likes to discuss politics?
Fairhall, James. "Colgan-Connolly: Another Look at the Politics of "Ivy Day in the Committee Room"" JSTOR. N.p., 1988. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.
Fargnoli, A. Nicholas., and Michael Patrick. Gillespie. James Joyce A to Z: The Essential Reference to the Life and Work. New York: Facts on File, 1995. Print.
Gifford, Don, and Donald E. Morse. Zones of Re-membering: Time, Memory, and (un)consciousness. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 2011. Print.