A Painful Case Four Levels
James Joyce
Four Levels of A Painful Case
- James Joyce (1882-1941)
1.LITERAL COMPREHENSION :
This story "A painful Case" by James Joyce is about a disturbed friendship and love between an unmarried man and a married woman.
James Duffy, the major character of the story was a Strictly moral kind of man. He lived in the suburb of Dublin Ireland. His life style was simple, unimpressive and plain. He loved books and musics. He worked as bank clerk in the town. He didn't like mixing up with the people much. He didn't have big ambitions. Hence his life was all the way an adventure-less tale.
Once he met and talked with Mrs. Emily Sinico at a hotel. She was with her daughter. After two more meetings at different places, he gathered courage to make an appointment with Mrs. Sinico. She also came to keep the appointments. Since he didn't like secret meetings, he encouraged her to invite him to her house. He started visiting Mrs. Sinico's house frequently. Captain Sinico also encourage Mr. Duffy to visit house thinking that his daughter's hand was in question. He was a busy man and remained away from home most of the time. Mary Sinico kept herself engaged in music lessons So Duffy and Mrs. Sinico had enough private time. They talked a lot and learnt about each other. He shared his ideas and intellectual life with her. He lent her his books and music. They spent many evening together. They often went for walks. Their friendship grew day by day.
One evening Mrs. Sinico caught his hand patiently and pressed it onto her chick but Duffy, thinking that every kind of bond is a bond to sorrow, decided to break up their relation. The formally separated in another meeting. Mrs. Sinico was quite upset so when they parted, she was trembling. Few days later, Mr. Duffy received a parcel of his books and music from Mrs. Sinico.
After four years, while he was having his evening meal at a hate, Mr. Duffy happened to see a newspaper report with the headline "Death of a lady at sydney parade; A painful case." It was about Mrs. Sinico's accident. She was hit by a train while trying to cross the railway track. The report implied that it was suicide. Her husband and daughter gave evidence of her mental illness. So railway officers were not blamed. Her death was regarded as a painful case.
Raising his eyes from the newspaper, Duffy pondered on the case of her death. He couldn't finish his meal. He went to a village pub and drank wine. He couldn't understand how she could take their relationship so seriously. Then he remembered the time he had spent with her. He felt uneasy realizing that how lonely she might have felt after he denied her love. He felt that he had sentenced her to death. He felt guilty of her sad and. He hated himself for his rectitude that had made him on outcast from the feast of line.
2.INTERPRETATION :
The story is trying to say that Sometimes strict morality doesn't let enjoy the feast of your life. Morality shouldn't be applied to love. If we try to do so it may bring tragedy in our life. Similarly morality without emotions, feelings and desires makes one's life dull, measurable and useless. Duffy could have enjoyed his life and could have given happiness to Mrs. Sinico if he had not been too ethical. Joyce is clearly implying that love is life and lack of love brings frustration in our life and arouses a desire to end it. Mrs Sinico needed somebody to love her since her husband was not giving her time. She thought Duffy would fulfill her need but when he turned her hope down, she became the victim of depression. This tragic story of regret and confession might also be telling us that friendship between a man and woman is not possible because of the interference sexual passion.
3. CRITICAL THINKING :
Judging from Nepalese moral and cultural standard, we find Duffy as an honest man who didn't carry on any immoral relationship with somebody's wife. We rather see weakness in Mrs Sinico. Being a mother of a daughter of marriageable age, is it appropriate for her to go a finding a lover herself ? But the writer seems to be favour of love and life rather than morality. From the writers angle, he is right because one has rights to love and live regardless of do one's age and status since love happens unknowingly.
4.ASSIMILATION :
After reading this story I realized that love is very important in our life. So we should give much time to our wife and love her.Otherwise they may start to find another person for her who could give her time and fulfill her sexual desire. Also I came to know that women have more sexual desires than men. Therefore we should satisfy our wife.
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