A Painful Case
- James Joyce
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A Painful Case: Summary and Critical Analysis |
Literal Comprehension
Mr. James Duffy lived in an old somber house. There was little furniture in his room. But there were plenty of books on the wall rack. He was very intellectual because he studied too much. He worked in a private bank in Baggot Street and had dinner in an eating house. He was for away from love, romance and women. Sometimes he went to concerts to listen to music.
One evening he went to a concert. There were not many people in the hall. A woman was seated near him and she began to talk with him. The woman was with her young daughter and James Duffy thought that she was a few years' young than himself. He also knew that she was Mrs., Sinico and her husband was a ship's captain. Another day after some weeks, he again met her in another concert.
From that time he met her in the evenings. He was impressed by her words and he wanted to make friendship with her morally. One day they walked together and they passed some days in the same way. Then James Duffy asked her to take him to her house. Then he frequently went to her house. Mr. Sinico also encouraged his visit because he thought that James Duffy wanted to marry his daughter. But he did not suspect the evil intention of his wife.
Mr. Sinico always went to his work and his daughter also went out to give music lessons. So, the two spent more time talking and enjoying. She talked in a fantastic way and Mr. Duffy also gave her some books to read. But he still did not study her psychology. One evening, she suddenly got excited and took his hand to her cheek from her sexual feeling. Mr. Duffy did not like her manner and he stopped meeting her. Then she sent his books back. Once she wrote to meet him and that day they talked for 3 hours and agreed not to meet again.
For 4 years James Duffy did not hear anything from her. One evening when he was having dinner, his eyes fell on a newspaper which title said "Death of Lady at Sydney Parade a painful case" He became grieved remembering the past events. Now he thought that at least she loved him but he neglected her. As a result, she lost her life. He had really missed the joy of his life and he felt himself alone in the darkness.
Interpretation
In the story, the writer may be trying to tell us that life does not become blissful without love. A lonely life is a source of sadness. Mr. Sinico was very busy with his job and Mary Sinico also left home for giving music lessons. So, Mrs. Sinico often lived alone. She needed their love but she did not get warmly. She found James Duffy but he also could not understand her feeling. Thus, she thought that she was abandoned by all. To control her sensation and tension, she began to drink wine. She became mentally unhealthy. As a result, she lost her life. This story also may be trying to tell us that sexual desire is very strong in both males and females but very dangerous. Unfulfilled sexual desire drives a man or woman to madness and some people even may lose their morality in the course of fulfilling such desire.
Critical Thinking
At the beginning of the story, we find that James Duffy liked to live lonely.
i) But his lonely life worth living?
ii) In a sentence James Duffy writes love between man and man is impossible because there must not be sexual intercourse and friendship between man and woman is impossible because the friendship between man and woman is impossible because there must be sexual intercourse but is it always true?
iii) Should one love only for sexual pleasure?
iv)Does a husband allow his wife to mix freely with another man?
v) Can't a woman express her inner lust with her husband and look for another man for sexual entertainment?
vi) Do all frustrated people drink wine?
vii) Do we find any honest and moral man like James Duffy in this world?
So, I don't totally agree with the writer.
Assimilation
After reading this story I understood that love is very important for living. A deserted life is not worth living. A husband should give time to his wife as the necessity to prevent her from being ruined. This story took me back to a man in my town that lost his wife being very busy in his business.
He often went to foreign countries for business. Perhaps he could not understand his wife's desire and Psychology. So, she made the immoral relationship with her husband's friend. This event leaked out and she committed suicide to hide her crime. Thus, there should be both husband and wife together for happy conjugal life.
