Two Gallants

Joyce’s publication of Dubliners in 1914 corresponded with a tumultuous period of Irish history. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ireland experienced both political and economic struggles. Joyce remained highly conscious of Ireland’s national struggle throughout his career and indirectly explored these issues in his fiction.

“Two Gallants” is set in the late 19th century of the author’s boyhood. The specific event that likely inspired the story was the fall from grace of the Irish politician Charles Stuart Parnell. The disgrace of Parnell, a prominent Irish nationalist leader, had significant ramifications for Irish nationalists who wanted independence from the United Kingdom. Parnell was a key figure in the fight for Irish Home Rule (self-government), and his downfall stemmed from his affair with Katharine O’Shea, the wife of a fellow Irish member of Parliament. The affair became public knowledge in 1890, causing a scandal that rocked Irish politics. In the context of Victorian morality and the religious beliefs of Parnell’s predominantly Catholic supporters, his political career became untenable (Callanan, Frank. “The Parnellism of James Joyce: ‘Ivy Day in the Committee Room.’” Joyce Studies Annual, vol. 2015, pp. 73-97). The repercussions of Parnell’s disgrace were deeply felt within the Irish nationalist movement. As Parnell was seen as a heroic figure by many Irish nationalists, his downfall was viewed as a betrayal by those who trusted him to deliver political change for Ireland.

Ireland’s economic decline in the late 19th and early 20th century was also intertwined with its historical relationship with the United Kingdom. British policies, such as land ownership laws and trade regulations, often favored British interests over those of the Irish population, contributing to economic exploitation. Furthermore, the Great Famine of the mid-19th century (1845-1852) had devastating consequences for Ireland’s population and economy. The failure of the potato crop, exacerbated by British policies and inadequate relief efforts, led to mass starvation, disease, and emigration in Ireland. Irish industries also faced challenges during this period. The decline of traditional sectors such as linen, wool, and shipbuilding, coupled with competition from British manufacturers, undermined the economic vitality of Irish cities like Dublin, further hindering economic growth.

Joyce does not directly depict Ireland’s political and economic turmoil in “Two Gallants.” However, his focus on two Dubliners who rely on petty crime and gambling to get by suggests that the characters are representative of the city’s bleak economic landscape and Ireland’s Social Decline. Meanwhile, Joyce’s theme of Suspicion and Betrayal reflects the disillusionment of Irish nationalists who placed their hopes for the future in Parnell. The author’s reliance on narrative realism separates his work from other Irish poets, novelists, and playwrights of the early 20th century who romanticized their depictions of the nation.