Ivy Day in the Committee Room by James Joyce
In Ivy Day in the Committee Room by James Joyce we have the theme of hypocrisy, loyalty, politics and paralysis. Taken from his Dubliners collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and very early on in the story Joyce delves into one of the main themes of the story, the theme of loyalty. It is noticeable that when Mr O’Connor lights his cigarette he uses the canvassing card of Richard Tierney, the Nationalist Party candidate that O’Connor is supposed to be canvassing for. Despite Old Jack offering O’Connor a match, he still uses the canvassing card. It is also noticeable that O’Connor, due to the inclement weather, is sitting down in the room by the fire, rather than canvassing for Tierney. Later in the story the reader will realise that, for all the characters, the most important thing is not the election of Tierney, but rather that they get paid for canvassing. Throughout the story there is no sense of loyalty to Tierney.
Joyce in the story also appears to be alluding to the decline in Irish Politics after the fall and death of Parnell in 1891. Throughout the story the reader becomes aware that each man in the committee room appears to be more interested in personal gain, rather than in politics itself. It is significant that Mr Henchy is more interested in receiving the free beer that Tierney had promised the men, than in Tierney being elected. After Parnell’s death there was a vacuum in Irish politics and there is a sense that none of the men in the committee room really believe in Tierney as a candidate. It is also significant that some of the men wear ivy on their lapels. This would be symbolism to commemorate the death of Parnell. The story is after all set on the 6th of October, the anniversary of Parnell’s death.
There is also a sense of hypocrisy among some of the men in the room as they are talking about a possible visit to Ireland by King Edward. O’Connor is against it, believing that if Parnell was alive, he’d be against it too. Also when Lyons suggests that King Edward is a womanizer, Henchy, who is in favour of a royal visit, defends the King, suggesting that he is a normal man, just like everyone else. Despite Lyons telling Henchy that Irish people turned their backs on Parnell when they discovered his affair with Kitty O’Shea, neither Henchy nor any of the other men respond. This is significant, the issue being avoided by the other men, as it would suggest a sense of hypocrisy among the men. Parnell, when his private life became public, was abandoned by not only his own party, the Nationalist Party but by the Irish people too. Yet several years later, after Parnell’s death, the reader finds that there is support for a royal visit in Ireland, despite the possible improprieties of King Edward.
Though Father Keon only appears briefly in the story his appearance is important. Joyce may be suggesting that when Father Keon refuses the light to assist him down the stairs that similarly the Catholic Church at the time Dubliners was written declined or refused to accept any guidance from others on the development of Ireland. Joyce may also be suggesting that the Church, who were outraged by how Parnell conducted his personal life, remain in the dark as to how people really live their lives. It is also significant that Henchy describes Father Keon as a ‘black sheep.’ There is a possibility that Father Keon, though a priest, is not loyal to the Catholic Church. Like the men in the committee room, he may have his own personal agenda, rather than focusing on the responsibilities of a priest.
Symbolically how paralysed the men in the committee room actually are is noticeable by the very fact that they are sitting down. Also all the action in the story takes place in the committee room. The lack of faith in Tierney’s leadership is also significant as it suggests the continued vacuum that remained after Parnell’s death. Again this suggests a paralysis, not only for the men in the room (lack of leadership) but for Ireland itself. Henchy also calls Tierney, ‘Tricky Dicky Tierney’ though later when the beer arrives he suggests that Tierney is as good as his word. This may be important as Joyce may be suggesting the fickle nature not only of Henchy but of the Irish people too. He may also be suggesting that people are more concerned about their own desires rather than on the needs of the country.
It is also significant that Hynes’ poem, lamenting the loss of Parnell, is also critical of the people who some would feel have betrayed Parnell. It would appear to be ironic that after Hynes has recited his poem there is a round of applause. Again this would suggest hypocrisy, as some of the men in the room are more concerned with their own personal goals (getting beer and getting paid) rather than with Parnell or the development of Ireland. Again there appears to be no loyalty to Ireland, just to self. This lack of interest in Ireland progressing is also noticeable by the fact that some of the men, when they are canvassing, have told voters that Tierney will not disturb the status quo. This lack of change or the possibility for change would further suggest the idea of paralysis. That Ireland is to remain the same and without a leader.