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I too would like to refer to only one point from the interesting post of Jay and that is his saying "I think a comparison between Mrs. Kearney and Mrs. Mooney from"The Boarding House" could be a wonderful source of discussion. Both have bagggage--- both have a background that predisposes them to provide for their daughters in very different ways. Both, I think, see themselves as good mothers. And though they are from opposite ends of the social world, both I think ruin their daughters chances for true happiness by imposing their own view of success on the next generation." I think that there are bid differences between Mrs. Mooney and Mrs. Kearney. (Believe me, I wrote this sentence before reading Rasik's citation from Burke!) The only thing that mattered to Mrs. Mooney was to see that her daughter was "well" settled. If the marriage has to be manipulated, well it will be done. Polly need not have ended up being unhappy in such a marriage, because I guess this was not such an extraordinary thing after all. Didnot one look for security instead of love and happiness in marriage? It is another question as to what Polly's husband felt later after being trapped into the marriage. He may have despised himself, and could have taken his displeasure out on Polly. It is also possible that Mr. Doran, being a kind of a spineless fellow, would have become the right hand of Mrs. Mooney and enjoyed his role. Who ever knows how the story would have continued? What I mean to say is that the Mrs. Mooneys are quite different from Mrs. Kearneys who carry a big burden all their lives because they feel that they are on one side and the world is on the opposite side. In all the stories I have read in Dubliners, it is the portraying of Mrs. Kearney which I find to be least satisfying. Terence Brown writes that Joyce based this story on a real encounter. True as it may be, I feel that this character is a kind of a caricature. Even if Mrs. Kearney is bent upon standing up for rights, she/no mother would be so blind as to fight such a loosing battle, however justified the cause is. A few of you wrote how unbearable the mothers are who poke their noses in the affairs - be it a sport event or something else - concerning their kids. Won't it be interesting to talk to mothers who do it and to find out the causes for their behaviour? That is all for now, Chandra |
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