Long Island
Part Six:ii
by Tóibín, ColmThe chapter opens with Mrs. Lacey setting a clear expectation for the family gathering: everyone must be prepared for the twelve o’clock mass the following day, and they will depart together at twenty-five minutes past eleven. Jack offers to drive her, but she confidently declines, relying instead on her grandsons for support. The scene reveals the presence of family members who have traveled from England and America, highlighting differences in appearance and demeanor between the brothers Jack and Pat. Jack is polished and successful, while Pat appears worn and less confident, reflecting their contrasting life experiences and social standings.
Eilis observes the dynamics among the family, noting the tension and subtle divisions. Jack has prospered by recognizing the importance of reliable union labor, which has distinguished him professionally. Martin, Eilis’s brother, provides insight into Jack’s business acumen, emphasizing his ability to deliver on promises despite higher costs. Meanwhile, Pat and his family live a more modest existence, with Pat working in a warehouse and maintaining a quieter presence. The younger generation, including Larry, feels somewhat alienated from their English cousins, who are unfamiliar with traditional Irish culture, particularly sports like hurling.
The evening’s social interactions reveal underlying family complexities. Jack and Pat’s reluctance to engage with old acquaintances and their avoidance of public attention suggest discomfort with their past or present identities. Mrs. Lacey expresses relief that their wives did not accompany them, fearing prolonged and tedious conversations. The family reminisces about traditional social customs, contrasting them with current behaviors, as Eilis reflects on how dances and meetings have evolved, especially in America. This underscores the cultural shifts experienced by the family across generations and geographies.
The next morning, the family gathers for the mass, maintaining a dignified and orderly procession under Mrs. Lacey’s watchful eye. The men are subdued, likely affected by the previous night’s events. Eilis contemplates her uncertain future, particularly regarding Jim Farrell’s potential arrival from America and her own impending return. She wrestles with practical and emotional questions about where she and her children will live and how her relationship with Tony might resume. The chapter closes on this note of ambiguity and anticipation, highlighting Eilis’s internal conflict and the unresolved tensions within the family.
FAQs
1. How does the chapter depict the differences between Jack and Pat, and what do these differences suggest about their characters and social status?
Answer:
The chapter contrasts Jack and Pat through their appearance, demeanor, and life circumstances. Jack is described as wearing an expensive suit, perfectly shaved with neat silver hair, smiling confidently around the table. In contrast, Pat needs a haircut and shave, smiles nervously, and his shoe laces are torn and frayed. Jack has accumulated wealth by recognizing the value of reliable union labor and delivering projects on time, indicating business acumen and a higher social status. Pat works in a warehouse and has five children, suggesting a more modest, working-class life. These differences highlight the diverging paths of two brothers—Jack’s success and polish contrast with Pat’s more humble, possibly struggling existence—underscoring themes of class, opportunity, and family dynamics.2. What role does Mrs Lacey play in managing the family gathering, and how does her attitude reflect the family’s cultural and generational values?
Answer:
Mrs Lacey acts as the matriarch who sets the rules and tone for the family gathering. She is firm about practical matters, such as ensuring everyone is ready for the twelve o’clock mass and organizing the departure time. Her comments about the wives not coming and her preference for certain family members reflect traditional values and a desire to maintain order and decorum. Mrs Lacey’s discomfort with Eileen’s adopted English accent and the idea of meeting strangers at dances reveals a generational and cultural adherence to more conservative social norms, emphasizing familiarity and community cohesion. Her role symbolizes the bridge between tradition and the evolving social landscape experienced by younger family members.3. Analyze the significance of the family’s attendance at the cathedral mass in the context of the chapter. What does this event reveal about their relationships and cultural identity?
Answer:
The family’s attendance at the cathedral mass serves as a ritualistic and symbolic act, reinforcing their shared cultural and religious identity. Mrs Lacey’s strict instructions against straggling and smoking, and her arrangement for family members to walk in a particular order, emphasize respect, unity, and the importance of presenting a dignified front. The mass also acts as a moment of reflection and subtle tension—Eilis wonders about the presence of Jim Farrell and the possibility of encountering him, suggesting unresolved personal and social conflicts. The mass, therefore, is more than religious observance; it highlights the intersection of family loyalty, social expectations, and individual anxieties within the Irish community.4. Discuss Eilis’s internal conflict regarding her promise to phone Jim Farrell and the uncertainties she faces about her future. How does the chapter portray her dilemma?
Answer:
Eilis’s hesitation to phone Jim Farrell reflects her deep internal conflict and uncertainty about her future. She is caught between several difficult questions: If Jim comes to America, when would that happen? Upon her return, where would she live and how would she manage relationships, especially with Tony? The chapter portrays her dilemma by revealing her worries about logistics, emotional entanglements, and the complexities of restarting her life. She contemplates practical options, such as finding lodgings with the money Frank gave her, but remains unsure about how to move forward. This portrayal captures the tension between hope, obligation, and fear of change, illustrating Eilis’s vulnerability and the complexity of navigating personal identity and family expectations.5. How does Larry’s interaction with his English cousins reflect broader themes of cultural identity and belonging in the chapter?
Answer:
Larry’s frustration with his English cousins, who talk only about English football and show no interest in Irish traditions like hurling, highlights themes of cultural identity and belonging. Larry’s perception that they are “not really Irish” suggests a tension between diaspora identities and the preservation of cultural heritage. His inability to connect with them and his comedic imitation of their accents underscore feelings of alienation and cultural difference within the same family. This interaction sheds light on the complexities of identity for Irish emigrants and their descendants, emphasizing how cultural practices and loyalties can both unite and divide family members across generations and geographies.
Quotes
1. “‘I don’t mind where anyone goes tonight or what anyone does,’ Mrs Lacey said, ‘as long as everyone is ready by twelve o’clock mass tomorrow. We will leave here in a body at twenty-five minutes past eleven.’”
This quote sets the tone for the family gathering, highlighting Mrs Lacey’s role as the matriarch who values unity and punctuality, reflecting the importance of tradition and collective responsibility in the chapter.
2. “‘He saw something that no one else saw,’ Martin said. ‘He saw the value of reliable union labour. If you wanted a stretch of motorway built by a certain time, Jack was one of the people you went to. It cost more, but he could deliver by the date agreed. He had the union bosses on his side. Some people said it was an Irish thing but it wasn’t really.’”
This passage reveals a key insight into Jack’s success, emphasizing foresight and the strategic use of union labor. It also touches on cultural identity and challenges stereotypes, contributing to the chapter’s exploration of family dynamics and individual achievement.
3. “‘I hate all that “Are you home for long?” business,’ Jack said. ‘And I don’t want to meet any old timers.’”
Jack’s reluctance to engage with his past and local acquaintances underscores themes of estrangement and the complexities of returning home after time abroad, which is central to the chapter’s mood and character interactions.
4. “‘Because they’d leave them here while they went to the pub and we’d have to talk to them for the whole evening. I don’t mind Betty so much, she’s English, but it’s Eileen who adds years to me. She has put on an English accent, if you don’t mind, and she’s from the west of Ireland. Jack met her at a dance.’”
Mrs Lacey’s commentary here highlights generational and cultural tensions, particularly regarding identity and assimilation, illustrating how accents and social behaviors symbolize deeper divides within the family.
5. “Eilis knew she should phone Jim as she had promised to do, but there were too many questions she could not answer. If Jim were really to come to America, when would he come? And when she herself went back, as she would do soon, where would she live? If she arrived at the airport with the children, what would she say to Tony? If she arrived a few days later, where would she go?”
This introspective moment captures Eilis’s inner conflict and uncertainty about her future, reflecting the chapter’s underlying themes of displacement, responsibility, and the challenges of navigating personal relationships amid change.
Quotes
1. “‘I don’t mind where anyone goes tonight or what anyone does,’ Mrs Lacey said, ‘as long as everyone is ready by twelve o’clock mass tomorrow. We will leave here in a body at twenty-five minutes past eleven.’”
This quote sets the tone for the family gathering, highlighting Mrs Lacey’s role as the matriarch who values unity and punctuality, reflecting the importance of tradition and collective responsibility in the chapter.
2. “‘He saw something that no one else saw,’ Martin said. ‘He saw the value of reliable union labour. If you wanted a stretch of motorway built by a certain time, Jack was one of the people you went to. It cost more, but he could deliver by the date agreed. He had the union bosses on his side. Some people said it was an Irish thing but it wasn’t really.’”
This passage reveals a key insight into Jack’s success, emphasizing foresight and the strategic use of union labor. It also touches on cultural identity and challenges stereotypes, contributing to the chapter’s exploration of family dynamics and individual achievement.
3. “‘I hate all that “Are you home for long?” business,’ Jack said. ‘And I don’t want to meet any old timers.’”
Jack’s reluctance to engage with his past and local acquaintances underscores themes of estrangement and the complexities of returning home after time abroad, which is central to the chapter’s mood and character interactions.
4. “‘Because they’d leave them here while they went to the pub and we’d have to talk to them for the whole evening. I don’t mind Betty so much, she’s English, but it’s Eileen who adds years to me. She has put on an English accent, if you don’t mind, and she’s from the west of Ireland. Jack met her at a dance.’”
Mrs Lacey’s commentary here highlights generational and cultural tensions, particularly regarding identity and assimilation, illustrating how accents and social behaviors symbolize deeper divides within the family.
5. “Eilis knew she should phone Jim as she had promised to do, but there were too many questions she could not answer. If Jim were really to come to America, when would he come? And when she herself went back, as she would do soon, where would she live? If she arrived at the airport with the children, what would she say to Tony? If she arrived a few days later, where would she go?”
This introspective moment captures Eilis’s inner conflict and uncertainty about her future, reflecting the chapter’s underlying themes of displacement, responsibility, and the challenges of navigating personal relationships amid change.
— Unknown
FAQs
1. How does the chapter depict the differences between Jack and Pat, and what do these differences suggest about their characters and social status?
Answer:
The chapter contrasts Jack and Pat through their appearance, demeanor, and life circumstances. Jack is described as wearing an expensive suit, perfectly shaved with neat silver hair, smiling confidently around the table. In contrast, Pat needs a haircut and shave, smiles nervously, and his shoe laces are torn and frayed. Jack has accumulated wealth by recognizing the value of reliable union labor and delivering projects on time, indicating business acumen and a higher social status. Pat works in a warehouse and has five children, suggesting a more modest, working-class life. These differences highlight the diverging paths of two brothers—Jack’s success and polish contrast with Pat’s more humble, possibly struggling existence—underscoring themes of class, opportunity, and family dynamics.
2. What role does Mrs Lacey play in managing the family gathering, and how does her attitude reflect the family’s cultural and generational values?
Answer:
Mrs Lacey acts as the matriarch who sets the rules and tone for the family gathering. She is firm about practical matters, such as ensuring everyone is ready for the twelve o’clock mass and organizing the departure time. Her comments about the wives not coming and her preference for certain family members reflect traditional values and a desire to maintain order and decorum. Mrs Lacey’s discomfort with Eileen’s adopted English accent and the idea of meeting strangers at dances reveals a generational and cultural adherence to more conservative social norms, emphasizing familiarity and community cohesion. Her role symbolizes the bridge between tradition and the evolving social landscape experienced by younger family members.
3. Analyze the significance of the family’s attendance at the cathedral mass in the context of the chapter. What does this event reveal about their relationships and cultural identity?
Answer:
The family’s attendance at the cathedral mass serves as a ritualistic and symbolic act, reinforcing their shared cultural and religious identity. Mrs Lacey’s strict instructions against straggling and smoking, and her arrangement for family members to walk in a particular order, emphasize respect, unity, and the importance of presenting a dignified front. The mass also acts as a moment of reflection and subtle tension—Eilis wonders about the presence of Jim Farrell and the possibility of encountering him, suggesting unresolved personal and social conflicts. The mass, therefore, is more than religious observance; it highlights the intersection of family loyalty, social expectations, and individual anxieties within the Irish community.
4. Discuss Eilis’s internal conflict regarding her promise to phone Jim Farrell and the uncertainties she faces about her future. How does the chapter portray her dilemma?
Answer:
Eilis’s hesitation to phone Jim Farrell reflects her deep internal conflict and uncertainty about her future. She is caught between several difficult questions: If Jim comes to America, when would that happen? Upon her return, where would she live and how would she manage relationships, especially with Tony? The chapter portrays her dilemma by revealing her worries about logistics, emotional entanglements, and the complexities of restarting her life. She contemplates practical options, such as finding lodgings with the money Frank gave her, but remains unsure about how to move forward. This portrayal captures the tension between hope, obligation, and fear of change, illustrating Eilis’s vulnerability and the complexity of navigating personal identity and family expectations.
5. How does Larry’s interaction with his English cousins reflect broader themes of cultural identity and belonging in the chapter?
Answer:
Larry’s frustration with his English cousins, who talk only about English football and show no interest in Irish traditions like hurling, highlights themes of cultural identity and belonging. Larry’s perception that they are “not really Irish” suggests a tension between diaspora identities and the preservation of cultural heritage. His inability to connect with them and his comedic imitation of their accents underscore feelings of alienation and cultural difference within the same family. This interaction sheds light on the complexities of identity for Irish emigrants and their descendants, emphasizing how cultural practices and loyalties can both unite and divide family members across generations and geographies.
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