Dubliners · Chapter
Ivy Day in the Committee Room explained
On a cold, damp October evening, a group of political canvassers gather in a dim committee room to await their candidate, Mr.
What happens
On a cold, damp October evening, a group of political canvassers gather in a dim committee room to await their candidate, Mr. Tierney. The conversation drifts from personal grievances to heated political debate, centering on the legacy of Charles Stewart Parnell. The men drink stout and argue about loyalty, betrayal, and the state of Irish politics. The climax comes when Mr. Hynes recites a poem commemorating Parnell, stirring a mix of emotion and solemn respect among the listeners.
Themes in this chapter
Disillusionment and Lost Innocence
The men's discussion of Parnell's betrayal and death reveals a deep sense of lost political hope and the shattering of nationalist ideals.
Alcohol and Escapism
The constant drinking of stout serves as a backdrop to the political debate, numbing the men's frustrations and enabling their nostalgic reminiscence.
Social Class and Ambition
The canvassers' lowly roles and their deference to Tierney, the absent candidate, underscore the class dynamics and petty ambitions within local politics.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Henchy
A fierce and loquacious canvasser who defends Parnell's memory and orchestrates the recitation of the poem.
- Mr. Hynes
A quiet, loyal supporter of Parnell who recites a commemorative poem, earning applause from the group.
- Mr. O'Connor
A grey-haired young canvasser who spends the evening by the fire, smoking and listening to the political talk.
- Mr. Crofton
A conservative canvasser who acknowledges Parnell as a gentleman, showing a rare moment of cross-party respect.
- Mr. Lyons
A skeptical canvasser who questions Parnell's fitness to lead, sparking debate among the men.
- Old Jack
The elderly caretaker who tends the fire and laments his son's drinking and disrespect.
Key passages
“He is dead. Our Uncrowned King is dead. O, Erin, mourn with grief and woe For he lies dead whom the fell gang Of modern hypocrites laid low.”
Parnell, the uncrowned leader of Ireland, has been killed by a group of modern hypocrites, and the nation should mourn deeply.
The opening lines of Hynes' poem establish Parnell as a martyred hero betrayed by his contemporaries.
“He would have had his Erin famed, The green flag gloriously unfurled, Her statesmen, bards and warriors raised Before the nations of the World.”
Parnell dreamed of a proud, independent Ireland with its flag flying high, its leaders and artists celebrated globally.
The poem idealizes Parnell's vision for Ireland's future, contrasting it with the present disappointment.
“Shame on the coward, caitiff hands That smote their Lord or with a kiss Betrayed him to the rabble-rout Of fawning priests—no friends of his.”
Shame on the traitors who struck down their leader or betrayed him with a kiss, handing him over to a crowd of sycophantic priests who were never his allies.
The poem directly attacks those who abandoned Parnell, particularly the Catholic clergy, for their role in his downfall.