The Luck of Barry Lyndon · Chapter
A False Start in the Genteel World explained
Barry arrives in Dublin and quickly falls in with a disreputable crowd at Captain Fitzsimons's boarding-house, losing his money through gambling and high living.
What happens
Barry arrives in Dublin and quickly falls in with a disreputable crowd at Captain Fitzsimons's boarding-house, losing his money through gambling and high living. When his funds run out, his creditors close in, and Fitzsimons discovers his true identity and threatens to turn him over to the law. Barry draws his sword and confesses he killed Captain Quin in a duel, intimidating Fitzsimons into backing down.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Self-Delusion
Barry adopts a false name and pretends to be a wealthy heir, but his schemes quickly unravel when his creditors and Fitzsimons expose him.
Fate and Luck
Barry reflects on how small circumstances have shaped his life, and his initial luck in Dublin turns as his money runs out and his debts catch up with him.
Characters to notice
- Barry Lyndon
Arrives in Dublin, adopts the alias Redmond, and quickly falls into bad company, losing his money and pawning his goods.
- Captain Fitzsimons
Runs the boarding-house where Barry stays; discovers Barry's true identity and threatens to hand him over to the law.
- Captain Quin
Referenced as the man Barry killed in a duel, which Barry uses to intimidate Fitzsimons.
Key passages
“consider upon what small circumstances all the great events of my life have turned, I can hardly believe myself to have been anything but a puppet in the hands of Fate; which has played its most fantastic tricks upon me.”
Barry reflects that his life's major events have been shaped by trivial details, making him feel like a mere puppet of fate.
Opening reflection on fate and chance.
“What could happen to a man but misfortune from associating with such company?”
Barry laments that associating with such disreputable people could only lead to ruin.
Barry's regret about falling in with Fitzsimons's circle.
“I have never had any of that foolish remorse consequent upon any of my affairs of honour: always considering, from the first, that where a gentleman risks his own life in manly combat, he is a fool to be ashamed because he wins.”
Barry feels no guilt about killing Quin in a duel, believing a gentleman should not regret winning a fair fight.
Barry's unapologetic attitude toward dueling.