Two Gallants

The theme of betrayal in “Two Gallants” corresponds with Joyce’s critique of the condition of Ireland. Throughout the story, Joyce presents Dublin as a society that has been exploited by British colonialism and politically let down by its nationalist leader, Charles Parnell. Within this environment, the story’s main characters routinely engage in deceit and betrayal even as they complain about the disloyalty of others. Corley and Lenehan’s experiences are depicted as micro-level representations of the challenges that Ireland experienced during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The narrative demonstrates how a lack of trust detracts from Dublin’s cultural, economic, and political well-being.

Joyce’s depiction of the narrative’s two main characters connects the figures to their respective histories of deceiving and manipulating others. Corley and Lenehan act out of their distrust of others, particularly women, as they plan and engage in nefarious acts. Corley’s tale at the beginning of the story describes how he engaged in a romantic conquest and used a woman for his own purposes. Hints that Lenehan’s enthusiastic response to this story may be feigned suggest an intention to manipulate Corley toward his own ends. The characters’ early interactions thus demonstrate that the duo both collaborate and work at cross-purposes as they each plan their individual schemes. The characters’ dialogue also demonstrates betrayal as a recurring theme. Corley bemoans being duped by former girlfriends who offered no sexual reward for the money he spent on them. He also expresses his sense of betrayal when he learned that a former girlfriend became a sex worker. These discussions, in turn, frame Corley’s plot to manipulate the servant woman.

Corley’s plan relies on a tiered approach to manipulation and betrayal. The strategy’s success will partially depend on his ability to convince the target that his plan will benefit both of them. Corley thus introduces deceit and betrayal into the relationship even as he encourages his love interest to betray her employers’ trust. At the story’s outset, Lenehan plays a complex role in these events. He serves as an engaged listener and encourages Corley’s pontificating with his agreements and vocalized enthusiasm. The later revelation that Lenehan views Corley as a worthless individual suggests that he may ultimately plan to deceive him.

The complex relationship between the two main characters and the servant woman creates a web of distrust and interpersonal betrayals. Corley views his involvement with the servant girl only from the standpoint of how he will personally benefit from the relationship. His plan to exploit the servant woman requires him to engender and betray her trust, and her involvement in the crime also requires her to betray the homeowner’s trust. While the latter character remains in the narrative’s background, the story’s details imply that her motivations might also be self-interested. By stealing the coin, she hopes to further her relationship with Corley.

This chain of ongoing betrayals in the narrative climaxes in the robbery, indicating Corley’s successful manipulation of the servant woman and the latter character’s willingness to engage in the crime. As the observer, Lenehan contemplates the meaning and significance of the act. The petty crime represents the idea of betrayal as a multifaceted social problem. The broader nature of Ireland’s political degeneration creates conditions in which its inhabitants rely on manipulation and theft for the purposes of survival, degrading the value of interpersonal relationships. The character's individual actions can thus be connected to Dublin’s social environment during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.