Dubliners

Two Gallants

Two Gallants: Summary

The story follows two men, Corley and Lenehan, as they wander the streets of Dublin. Corley is involved with a woman he met on the street, and Lenehan is curious about his friend’s affair.

Below you will find a list of introductory articles on "Two Gallants" that will deepen your understanding of the story.

Overview & Analysis

"Two Gallants" is a story set in Dublin, Ireland, and is part of James Joyce's collection of short stories, "Dubliners". The protagonists, Corley and Lenehan, wander the streets of Dublin while discussing their escapades and their disillusionment with life.

The primary theme is disillusionment and frustration with life, particularly regarding romantic and economic prospects. Corley and Lenehan embody this theme. Corley is a smooth-talker who manipulates a woman into giving him money, reflecting his adroitness and eloquence. Lenehan, on the other hand, is more introspective and dissatisfied with his life, longing for "a good job" and "a home of his own." His reflections reveal the grim reality of their lifestyle: "He knew what those friends were worth: he knew the girls too...". The fact that Corley's plan succeeds, depicted when he reveals "a small gold coin", emphasizes the moral bankruptcy of their situation.

The Dublin setting is integral to the story. The city's depiction, from its "grey warm evening" to its "gaily coloured crowd", creates a vivid backdrop for the characters' aimless wandering and idle chattering. The city becomes a metaphor for the paralysis and stagnation that the characters, and by extension, the Dubliners, experience. The aimless wandering of the two men mirrors their aimless lives, devoid of genuine relationships or fulfilling employment.

The story's conflict is subtle yet profound, lying in the moral choices and lifestyles of the two main characters. Corley's manipulation of a woman for monetary gain and Lenehan's passive acceptance of such behaviour underscore the moral decline they embody. These choices are not confronted or resolved directly, making the story a poignant commentary on the moral degradation of society.

The plot unravels through their conversation and actions, revealing more about their characters and their views. Corley's boastful recounting of his manipulative strategies and Lenehan's reflective monologues provide insight into their personalities and their circumstances.

The epiphany in the story, a hallmark of Joyce's narrative style, comes for Lenehan. As he observes Corley's manipulative success, he experiences a moment of profound realization about the shallowness and futility of their lifestyle. However, the lack of any significant change following this realization further emphasizes their state of moral and social paralysis.

A quote that encapsulates this sense of disillusionment is Lenehan's reflection: "He was tired of knocking about, of pulling the devil by the tail, of shifts and intrigues. He would be thirty-one in November. Would he never get a good job? Would he never have a home of his own?". This quote underlines Lenehan's dissatisfaction and his longing for a more stable and purposeful life.

The story, on the surface, might appear as a simple tale of two idling men. But through his intricate portrayal of characters and the city they inhabit, Joyce presents a poignant critique of the moral and social paralysis that he perceived in the Dublin of his times. This sense of disillusionment and frustration is encapsulated in Lenehan's thoughts — he is dissatisfied with his current state, yet feels powerless to change it. This introspective despair, coupled with Corley's apathetic manipulation, paint a bleak picture of their lives and, in a broader sense, the society they inhabit.

To conclude, "Two Gallants" is a complex narrative intertwining themes of disillusionment, frustration, and moral decay, set against the backdrop of a vividly portrayed Dublin city. Joyce delves deep into the psyche of his characters, unveiling their dreams, disappointments, and moral quandaries, thus presenting an incisive critique of the society they represent. The story ends on a low note, with Corley successfully deceiving the woman and Lenehan left in his state of disillusionment, symbolizing the cycle of moral and social stagnation that Joyce perceived in Dublin. Through the narrative's course, Joyce skilfully uses internal monologue, detailed descriptions, and symbolic devices to bring out the story's underlying themes and the characters' intricate psychological landscapes.

An example of his masterful symbolism is the scene where "His softly padded feet played the melody while his fingers swept a scale of variations idly along the railings after each group of notes". This metaphor alludes to Lenehan's life — a mundane melody with superficial variations. It subtly conveys the monotonous repetition and lack of real change in his life, echoing the larger theme of social and moral paralysis.

Ultimately, "Two Gallants" is a compelling exploration of characters battling disillusionment and moral decay within themselves and their society. It's a testament to Joyce's prowess in portraying complex human emotions and societal critiques through his narratives.

Characters