IVY DAY IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM

1. IVY DAYIN THECOMMITTEEROOM By Connor Ericson and Jennifer Akosa

2. Preliminary • What is Ivy Day?  • The anniversary of the death of  the 19th century Irish • politician Charles Parnell regarded for his achievement of • Home Rule, as opposed to submission to foreign rulers. • German Mornarch/ Edward Rex • The German monarch at this time included Edward Rex, • better known as King Edward VII. He ruled over Ireland and • Great Britain during the early 1900s. • Hynes:“The working-man is not going to drag the honor   of Dublin in the mud to please a German monarch.” (123) • Nationalist • Henchy and O'Connor work for the Nationalistcandidate • namedTierney. This party stood for IrishIndependence • O’Connor: "Ourmanwon'tvote for the address...He goes in on the Nationalistticket.”(123) • The Conservatives, however, desired to remaintied to England • Castle Hacks: Spies/Informants http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cwpbh.03648 http://bbc.uk

3. Plot • Old Jack and Mat O’Connor sit by a fire in the Nationalist Party committee room and discuss Old Jack’s misguided, unruly 19 year old son • After Hynes leaves, Henchy tells O’Connor that he thinks Hynes is spying on them for the other candidate, Colgan • Joe Hynes enters and begins to discuss politics with the two men, casting aspersions on Richard Tierney, and praising the deceased ruler, Parnell (calls Tierney “Tricky Dicky Tierney”) • Father Keon then enters, but quickly leaves in search of Mr. Fanning (business matter) • Henchy explains to O’Connor and Old Jack that the Father is considered a “black sheep” and isn’t tied to any specific church or institution • John Henchy then enters and discusses business with O’Connor before also expressing dissatisfaction with Tierney

4. Plot • Henchy then moves the conversation back to politics, saying he wishes he could be a city father so that he could have corrupt politicians pay him for his vote • Henchy says the coming of the king will bring money to Dublin and therefore benefit the city but others disagree Conversation moves to the deceased leader Parnell, who is respected by all now that he is dead • Shortly after a teenage boy arrives with drinks and, after getting a corkscrew, the three drink and Henchy discusses the work he did that day • Hynes is spotted in the doorway, is asked to enter and told to read the piece he wrote about Parnell • Two more canvassers enter, Lyons and Crofton, and the 5 begin to debate whether they should receive the foreign king, Edward, warmly or not • After reciting it he receives applause from everyone in the room

5. Setting • Nationalist Party committee room on Wicklow Street • Raining, cold, dark and dismal outside • “The walls of the room were bare except for a copy of an election address. In the middle of the room was a small table on which papers were heaped.” (122) • Plain and business-oriented • Paints another depressing, dark picture of Dublin

6. Characters • Old Jack • Caretaker of the committee room • Described as a bony, hairy, old looking man • Struggling to control his drunk 19 year old son • Feels that, “…the working class should be represented…” and therefore dislikes Tierney (123) • Generally quiet throughout the story • Mat O’Connor • “…a grey-haired young man, whose face was disfigured by many blotches and pimples…” (119) • Canvasser for Richard Tierney • Upset about not getting paid by Tierney yet • “I hope to God he’ll not leave us in the lurch to-night.” (122) • Wears ivy leaf to commemorate passing of Parnell • Initially sympathetic toward Tierney, but realizes the corrupt nature of the man throughout the story • “Our man won’t vote for the address…He goes on the Nationalist ticket.” (123) • “There’s some deal on in that quarter…I saw the three of them hard at it yesterday at Suffolk Street corner.” (129)

7. Characters • Joe Hynes • “He was a tall slender young man with a light brown moustache.” (121) • Wears ivy leaf to commemorate Parnell • Expresses dissatisfaction with Tierney, calling him, “Tricky Dicky Tierney” (123) • Favors working class candidate Colgan • “The working man is not going to drag the honour of Dublin in the mud to please a German monarch.” (123) • Suspected of being a spy for another camp by Henchy • Strong supporter of former ruler Parnell • “He fell as fall the mighty ones,/ Nobly undaunted to the last,/ And death has now united him/ With Erin heroes of the past.” (137) • John Henchy • Described as a, “bustling little man” (123) • Highly critical of Tierney’s tactics • “O, he’s as tricky as they make ‘em…” (124) • “You must owe the City Fathers money nowadays if you want to be made Lord Mayor. Then they’ll make make you Lord Mayor.” (129) • Suspicious of Hynes’ motives, despite O’Connor’s insistence that he is a good man • Opinion of Tierney changes quickly once the beer arrives • “Ah, well, he’s not so bad after all. He’s as good as his word, anyhow.” (130)

8. Minor Characters • Teenage Boy • Brings the men drinks, retrieves the corkscrew, and drinks a bottle of beer despite being underage • Father Keon • enters but then quickly leaves to seek out Fanning and discuss a business matter • Mr. Fanning • Associate of Tierney • Crofton • conservative canvasser working for Tierney after conservative party withdrew their man from the race • Considers himself above everyone else because he is a conservative • Lyons • Young, frail canvasser for Tierney

9. Themes • Corruption • The men make it clear that they are canvassing for the money • Henchy is suspicious of Hynes and says he thinks he is spying for Colgan • Father Keon says he needs to attend to a business matter with Mr. Fanning • Henchy thinks Tierney is bribing people to get their votes • Alcohol • Men long for alcohol throughout the entire story • Henchy says, “I asked that little shoeboy (Tierney) three times…would he send up a dozen of stout.” (128-129) • Show more concern for their drinks than for Tierney • Disappointment • Old Jack is disappointed in the way his son has been raised • All men are disappointed at the state of politics in Dublin and disappointed that their former leader Parnell has died

10. CONFLICT • The Nationalist politicians are waiting for their payment from Politician Tierney in a room with men of an opposing party and opposing views in general (as far as we know, they had not received the money even up until the end) • Opposition: • “O he's as tricky as they make 'em," said Mr. Henchy. "He hasn't got those little pigs' eyes for nothing. Blast his soul!” (124).

11. CLIMAX 1 He is dead. Our Uncrowned King is dead. O, Erin, mourn with grief and woe For he lies dead whom the fell gang Of modern hypocrites laid low. He lies slain by the coward hounds “The Death of Parnell” • Joe Hynes reads his poem entitled “The Death of Parnell” 8 He fell as fall the mighty ones, Nobly undaunted to the last, And death has now united him With Erin's heroes of the past. • “Mr. Hynes did not seem to remember at once the piece to which they were alluding,…” (136) • “Mr. Hynes hesitated a little longer. Then amid the silence he took off his hat, laid it on the table and stood up. He seemed to be rehearsing the piece in his mind” (136) 11 The day that brings us Freedom's reign. And on that day may Erin well Pledge in the cup she lifts to Joy One grief—the memory of Parnell. Possible Castle Hack V Incompetent Politician

12. TURNING POINT • Hynes finishes reading the poem and the men each take the briefest moment of silence to think. • The contentious atmosphere instantly begins to dissipate. • “When he had finished his recertification there was a silence and then a burst of clapping: even Mr. Lyons clap.” (138).

13. SYMBOLISM • The Priest (Father Keon) • “The unholy mixture of religion and politics in Ireland.” (Fairhall 90) • Stood in the doorway, not daring to come in. • “No, no, no!” (127). • The Late Charles Stuart Parnell; Ivy sprig worn on lapels • “Mr. Hynes took off his hat, shook it and then turned down the collar of his coat, displaying, as he did so, an ivy leaf in the lapel” (123) • The death of Ireland’s chances for restoration; Home Rule/Irish Independence

14. I R O N Y • All corrupt hypocrites; Most of time is spent criticizing others. • When one man leaves the room, they immediately begin to gossip about him • “[They denounce] political institutions in general and a wide range of political figures from Edward VII to Tierney himself in particular” (Gillepsie, 113) • Charles Parnell is a hero and idealized by all canvassers present; however he did NOT die a noble death. • Hynes: “If this man was alive," he said, pointing to the leaf, "we'd have no talk of an address of welcome.” (123) • Old Jack: “Musha, God be with them times!...There was some life in it then.”(123) “He lies slain by the coward hounds He raised to glory from the mire”(136) • His death was not the end of all good, but the beginning of corruption as he had cheated on his wife for several years before dying • The title: “Ivy Day”!… “in the Committee Room”? • This day was meant to be a day of Celebration and rallying; however, “their actual efforts to secure votes often consist of little more than sitting by the fire all day.”(Gillepsie 113) • Tierney (TYRANNY) is the leader of the Irish Independence order. • Things could not be more out of order; on top of everything, Tierney never even showed up!

15. Relation to other stories • The Sisters • Father Keon and Father Flynn were both questionable religious figures • Father Flynn had lost his mind and couldn’t handle the duties required by priesthood • Father Keon was considered a “black sheep”-he had no connection with any specific church or institution

16. “The Sisters” & “Ivy Day” OLD COTTER OLD JACK  “moist blue eyes blinked at the fire” (119) Continuing Conversation between Old Jack and Mr. O’Connor  “Ah yes, it's hard to know what way to bring up children. Now who'd think he'd turn out like that! I sent him to the Christian Brothers and I done what I could for him, and there he goes boorsing about.” (120) Allusion? Christian Brothers to Father Rourke/Father Flynn. • having "little beady black eyes” (2) • Stunted conversation between Old Cotter and uncle Jack • "let a young lad run about and play with young lads of his own age and not be…” (3) **Old Cotter did not approve of the relationship between the fairly young narrator and the priest. “No, I wouldn't say he was exactly... but there was something queer... there was something uncanny about him. I'll tell you my opinion….” (2)

17. Relation to other stories • Two Gallants • Corrupting power of money • Corley uses a woman to get money from her employer • O’Connor, Henchy, Lyons, and Crofton work to secure votes for Tierney, even though they don’t particularly like him • A Little Cloud • Continuous disappointment • Little Chandler is disappointed that he is stuck where he is: He wishes he could be out of Dublin, getting more out of his life • All the men in this novel are constantly disappointed—they are disappointed with the state of politics in Dublin, the fact that their once great leader is deceased, and in the short term are upset that they don’t have drinks or money from Tierney

18. PARALYSIS • Since the very beginning of the book, Old Cotter/Old Jack has been sitting by the fire. • Old Cotter as “sitting at the fire, smoking” (1) • "OLD JACK raked the cinders together with a piece of cardboard and...he set himself to fan the fire again” • Rarely moves, almost as if he suffers from actual paralysis. • “stumbling about the room” (121) • “stagnant”, unable to change

19. PARALYSIS • POLITICS

20. “The Death of Parnell” PARALYSIS 8 He fell as fall the mighty ones, Nobly undaunted to the last, And death has now united him With Erin's heroes of the past. Stanza 8 End of an honest Ireland. Ireland is STUCK No one capable of restoring Ireland to her former glory. Corruption has prevailed, and will continue to prevail due to the endless cycle of paralysis INACTION: The fate of Ireland A bunch of grown men sitting around all day gossiping and drinking stout? “The men freely admit that their personal political views cover a broad spectrum, and that they’re motivated by little more than the promise of financial gain.”(Gillepsie, 113) Independence? Not likely!

21. Gnomon • Wages • “Anyway, I wish he’d [Tierney] turn up with the spondulics” (123) • Like the politicians waiting for money, Ireland is waiting on something that will never come • Fire • “A denuded roomcame into view and the fire lost its cheerful colour.” (122) • Prententious nature; Politics: missing Sincerity

22. Simony The Priest (Father Keon) “The unholy mixture of religion and politics in Ireland.” (Fairhall 90)

23. Discussion Questions • Based on what we know of Dublin at the time, do you think it would be beneficial to greet the foreign king warmly? • How do you think the men would have reacted if Tierney won the race? What would they have done? • Do you think Hynes is spying for Colgan (Castle Hack) or do you believe that he is a good man who merely likes to discuss politics?

24. Fairhall, James. "Colgan-Connolly: Another Look at the Politics of "Ivy Day in the Committee Room"" JSTOR. N.p., 1988. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. • Fargnoli, A. Nicholas., and Michael Patrick. Gillespie. James Joyce A to Z: The Essential Reference to the Life and Work. New York: Facts on File, 1995. Print. •  Gifford, Don, and Donald E. Morse. Zones of Re-membering: Time, Memory, and (un)consciousness. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 2011. Print.