A Mother by James Joyce
In A Mother by James Joyce we have the theme of stubbornness, frustration, status, appearance and paralysis. Taken from his Dubliners collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and it is after reading the story that the reader realises that Joyce, through his character description of Mrs Kearney at the beginning of the story, may be exploring the theme of paralysis. Through the narrator the reader learns that when Mrs Kearney was younger she was ‘unbending in manner’ and made very few friends when she was in school. This information is important as it is at the end of the story that the reader realises that nothing has changed for Mrs Kearney (which would suggest paralysis). Through her stubbornness of wanting to get fully paid for the concerts Mrs Kearney manages to isolate not only herself but Kathleen too, making very few friends, if any.
The idea or theme of status is also explored in the story when the reader learns that every year Mrs Kearney goes on holidays to either Howth, Greystones or Skerries. This is significant as for the majority of people in Dublin at the time Dubliners was written, very few could have afforded to go on holidays. Mrs Kearney is also part of the growing Irish Revival movement (middle class movement), and many would have believed it to have been a significant movement within Ireland. However there is a strong possibility that Joyce may be ridiculing the movement in the story. The reader learns that after Mass Mrs Kearney would talk (or gossip) with other members of the Revival movement on Cathedral Street and after gossiping Mrs Kearney and the members of the Revival would say goodbye to each other in Irish. This is significant as Joyce could be suggesting that for the majority of people who were attached to the Irish Revival, most were more concerned with gossiping than promoting the Irish language and culture. Joyce may also be taking another shot at the Revival movement later in the story. The fact that the concerts, which Mrs Kearney had hoped would be better attended, are poorly attended may highlight to the reader the lack of real interest among Irish people in the Irish Revival movement.
As with the idea of status, Joyce also focuses on the theme of appearance and its significance to Mrs Kearney. One of the more obvious signs that appearance is important to Mrs Kearney is how she organises the programme for the concert. She makes sure not to place some of the artistes next to acts which she considers would embarrass them. She also purchases a charmeuse for Kathleen. Again this suggests the importance of appearance to Mrs Kearney. Then there is the fact that she buys a dozen tickets for her friends. This would suggest that Mrs Kearney considers the concerts to be important or at least appear to be important, particularly considering that they are organised by the Irish Revival movement.
There are other instances in the story which further suggest the theme of appearance. When Mrs Kearney arrives at the hall, for the first concert, she is disappointed by how the ushers are dressed. Later the reader finds that Mrs Kearney doesn’t like the look of Mr Fitzpatrick. Also she is disappointed by the fact that on the first night of the concert there are very few people in the hall. The lack of attendance is significant as Mrs Kearney wishes to promote Kathleen, to the widest and most influential audience possible. It is also certain that by promoting Kathleen, Mrs Kearney also believes that she will not only be promoting her daughter but also her own status among those attached to the Irish Revival.
Mrs Kearney’s frustration becomes very clear to the reader on the third night of the concert. She wishes to be paid in advance and paid for all four concerts. This frustration is also interesting because Mrs Kearney has brought her husband along for support. She is aware, or at least feels that, she is being badly treated because she is a woman. It is difficult to say whether or not Holohan or Fitzpatrick’s treatment of Mrs Kearney is because she is a woman, particularly when the reader becomes aware that Miss Healy has been paid in full and that both Fitzpatrick and Holohan have made efforts to get all the money for Mrs Kearney. If anything Holohan considers Mrs Kearney to be unreasonable, regardless of her sex.
How crippling Mrs Kearney’s behaviour is to others is noticeable when she stops Kathleen from performing. If anything Mrs Kearney brings a brief paralysis to the concert, only allowing Kathleen perform when she has been paid half of the money she was promised. It is also interesting that at the interval, everybody comments on the inappropriateness of Mrs Kearney’s behaviour. This is important as the reader is aware that Mrs Kearney’s original plan was to promote Kathleen among those involved with the Irish Revival. If anything Kathleen is now ostracized, with Mr O’Madden Burke even going as far as suggesting that Kathleen’s musical career is over. This in turn would suggest a sense of paralysis (for Kathleen), of not going anywhere.
The fact that the concert proceeds without Kathleen is also significant as it highlights to the reader that not only has Mrs Kearny succeeded in ostracizing her daughter but in turn she has also ensured that neither she nor her daughter will advance within the Irish Revival movement. This is important as again it suggests a paralysis not only for Kathleen but for Mrs Kearney too. Despite her best efforts, Mrs Kearney’s stubbornness, anger and inability to control her frustration have resulted in her social status remaining unchanged. And the reader is fully aware of how important status is to Mrs Kearney.