Counterparts

The descriptive language used to describe Farrington throughout “Counterparts” is volatile and that of suppressed violence. His fantasies early in the story about the fragility of Mr. Alleyne’s skull help create feelings of instability and repressed anger from the start. Joyce uses an egg metaphor for the man’s head before indicating Farrington’s desire to crack it open, remarking that “[t]he head itself was so pink and hairless that it seemed like a large egg reposing on the papers” (70-71). Following Mr. Alleyne’s admonitions, Farrington stares at the head, “gauging its fragility” (71). The figurative language highlights the vulnerability of Mr. Alleyne’s safety in the presence of Farrington’s rage, but it does not occur to Mr. Alleyne that he is in danger because of his elevated socioeconomic status. Nonetheless, the metaphor sets feelings of tension that will carry throughout the narrative, mirroring Farrington’s own constant sense of dissatisfaction and fury that is only satisfied when he releases his anger on his family. When Tom receives the brunt of his father’s rage it has nothing to do with serving his father a cold supper and everything to do with the insults that Farrington suffered as a working-class man in Dublin.

Parallelism is the use of syntax or grammar that repeats or parallels itself in order to add emphasis. Joyce employs parallelism from the first line: “The bell rang furiously and, when Miss Parker went to the tube, a furious voice called out…” (70). Not only does this literary device add to the tone, creating tension through the double use of “furious,” but it also contributes to broader ideas on the general repetitiveness of Farrington’s life.

Parallelism is also employed through dialogue and action. At work, Farrington endures the dehumanizing mimicry of his boss: “‘You-know-nothing. Of course you know nothing,’ said Mr. Alleyne” (74). The italicized font makes it clear that Mr. Alleyne is parroting Farrington’s own words back at him. It is the exact same framework that Farrington utilizes later in his discourse with his son, Tom, as “[h]e began to mimick his son’s flat accent, saying half to himself: At the chapel. At the chapel, if you please!” (81). Parallelism shows that the bullying that Farrington carries out against Tom is a learned behavior. When Mr. Alleyne throws Farrington’s words back at him with a mocking tone, it is so shameful and embarrassing that it drives him to a night of destructive behavior. However, rather than address his abuser, Joyce shows how Farrington disrespects his son in an identical manner.