Gambling with Gambles in "Two Gallants"

Clause complexing and characterisation: Joyce’s ‘Two Gallants’ revisited

“…In this study, my analysis is based on a striking feature of this short story; that is the tripartite narrative progression corresponding neatly to three distinct aspects in Lenehan’s characterisation. In the first narrative unit, Lenehan’s behaviour in social interaction is foregrounded as the narratorial attention is given to his interpersonal relationship with Corley; in the second narrative unit, while we are still presented with Lenehan’s trajectory in Dublin’s public space, there is a subtle and yet noticeable shift of focus to shape Lenehan’s identity as an individual who is struggling in his futile life; in the third narrative unit, while being pushed to the edge of desperation, Lenehan exposes an instinct of desire and, as Norris pointed out, his psychic agitations are marked with obvious violence (1995: 40).…”

“…In a letter to the London publisher Grant Richards, James Joyce defended the irreplaceable role of ‘Two Gallants’ in his short-story collection Dubliners (2006[1914]), claiming that ‘it is one of the most important stories in the book’ and that he would ‘rather sacrifice five of the other stories than this one’ (Gilbert, 1966: 62). Since its publication, this piece has stimulated discussions on the issues of multiple symbols and motifs, narrative strategies and ironic characterisation of the two ‘gallants’ (see, for instance, Benstock, 1994; Boyle, 1963; Callanan, 2011; Doloff, 2004; Duffy, 2017; Florence, 1965; Kerins, 2009; Litz, 1969; Norris, 1995). Moreover, it is also one of the most frequently mentioned Joycean texts in the field of stylistics, particularly by Kennedy (1982), Nørgaard (2003; 2007) and Toolan (2009).…”