Counterparts by James Joyce
"Counterparts" is a short story by James Joyce featured in his collection "Dubliners." The narrative follows Farrington, a scrivener who experiences the frustrations of his mundane job as he copies legal documents in Dublin. Set on a February afternoon, the story captures Farrington's struggle with his oppressive work environment, particularly under the scrutiny of his boss, Mr. Alleyne. After being reprimanded for his extended lunch, Farrington seeks solace in alcohol at a nearby pub, but his attempts to escape his troubles only lead to further humiliation. His behavior spirals as he attempts to impress his friends with tales of his misadventures, yet he ends up feeling increasingly isolated and defeated. The story culminates in a tragic moment when Farrington, overwhelmed by his suppressed emotions and failures, takes out his frustrations on his young son at home. Through its exploration of themes like frustration, failure, and domestic violence, "Counterparts" presents a poignant reflection on the human condition and the consequences of personal discontent.
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Counterparts by James Joyce
First published: 1914
Type of plot: Symbolist
Time of work: About 1900
Locale: Dublin
Principal Characters:
Farrington , a middle-aged scrivenerMr. Alleyne , a lawyer, Farrington's boss
The Story
The action of "Counterparts," one of James Joyce's Dubliners stories, occurs during a February afternoon and evening in the life of a lawyer's scrivener in Dublin. Farrington, the heavyset protagonist, is frustrated by his demeaning, monotonous job of copying legal documents. Mr. Alleyne, his boss, chastises him for taking an extended lunch hour, and rather than complete the work in hand, Farrington slips away from his desk to a nearby pub for a quick mid-afternoon drink.
Unable to finish the task before closing time, he turns it in two documents short while attempting to conceal his negligence. This time he is reprimanded by Mr. Alleyne for the compounded dereliction before his fellow clerks and an attractive, wealthy client. Faced with this public humiliation and affected by the combination of alcohol and suppressed rage, he blunders into an impertinent and accidentally witty answer, which sinks him in deeper trouble: He may now lose his job.
To drown these accumulated anxieties, when his workday is over he pawns his watch and spends the proceeds boozing with his pals. His embellished retelling of the confrontation with Mr. Alleyne earns for him their temporary admiration. As the evening progresses, however, and as they move from bar to bar, he pays for almost all the alcohol consumed in his honor, feels snubbed by a passing actress, and is defeated in Indian wrestling by an English vaudeville acrobat. He feels abused, cheated, and betrayed. When he finally arrives late that night at his cold, dark home to find his wife away at church, he turns in violent exasperation on his own son as the most convenient victim of his accumulated anger.