Short Fiction · Chapter
Transformation of Martin Burney explained
Martin Burney, an Irish laborer working on the Speedway along the Harlem River, is denied tobacco by his tyrannical boss, Dennis Corrigan, after falling into debt.
What happens
Martin Burney, an Irish laborer working on the Speedway along the Harlem River, is denied tobacco by his tyrannical boss, Dennis Corrigan, after falling into debt. Deprived of his only comfort, Burney grows increasingly desperate and resentful, even contemplating murder. He is approached by Tony, a kitchen worker of Gothic descent, who proposes cutting the mooring ropes of Corrigan's boat while he sleeps. However, when Tony offers Burney a cigar to smoke while they wait, the tobacco instantly transforms Burney's mood and loyalty. He turns on Tony, berating him as a criminal and chasing him away, then sets off for the Bronx to find work, content once more with a pipe in hand.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Burney's apparent willingness to commit sabotage against Corrigan is reversed when tobacco restores his loyalty, revealing the deceptive nature of his earlier desperation.
Humor and Irony
The irony of Burney's transformation is highlighted when the very tobacco he was denied leads him to defend Corrigan and abandon the plot, turning from conspirator to moralizer.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator recounts the story of Martin Burney's transformation, describing his labor, his addiction to tobacco, and his eventual change of heart.
- Tonia Perez
Tony, a kitchen worker of Gothic descent, conspires with Burney to cut the mooring ropes of Corrigan's boat but is rebuked and chased away after Burney's mood shifts.
Key passages
“As a child in a dark room fixes his regard on the pale light of a comforting window, these toilers watched the sun that brought around the one hour of the day that tasted less bitter.”
The workers looked forward to the evening hour after supper as a child looks to a comforting light in a dark room, because it was the only time of day that felt less harsh.
This simile emphasizes the workers' relief during their brief respite from labor.
“He laid it to his lips like a long-lost sweetheart.”
He put the cigar to his mouth as if reuniting with a beloved partner he had missed dearly.
This metaphor underscores Burney's deep emotional attachment to tobacco.