The Boarding House
-“The Madame”- more than just a boarding house
-Polly: perverse Madam, sinful Mary?
Green= Ireland in her eyes
Basically the story revolves around Mrs. Mooney, Polly and Mr. Doran. Mr. Doran is forced into marriage because he has a relationship with Polly. He is at the mercy of social opinion, he is afraid if he does not marry Polly he will lose his job. He is religious as well (his job as well is for the church). Mrs. Mooney knows he cannot refuse the marriage; he is weak and cares too much about public opinion so she easily manipulates him. Polly is just a manipulative, she seduces his and she clearly knows she has won. Around the end she dreams about the future with Mr. Doran and she does not seem very worried, meaning she knows she is going to get what she wants (marriage). It’s about money and security, not love.
OTHER:
-The are clues throughout the story that Polly might be pregnant, hence the need of marriage
-Mr. Doran is controlled by fear. Before he meets Mrs. Mooney he sees Jack, Polly’s brother, which is a great fighter, big and scary. Mr. Doran knows if he refuses the marriage he’ll get beat up by her brother.
-The story switches points of views throughout
“Three days' reddish beard fringed his jaws and every two or three minutes a mist gathered on his glasses so that he had to take them off and polish them with his pocket-handkerchief. “
-could symbolise blindness, nervousness, fear that paralyzes him.
-The gilt clock symbolizes: time, money and the church
-Mrs. Mooney is paralyzed due to her husband’s abusive behaviour, Mr. Doran is paralyzed due to the fact he’s stuck in an unwanted marriage.
Cat Scratch Notes:
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