Long Island
Part Two:i
by Tóibín, ColmThe chapter opens in Nancy’s chip shop, where the pervasive smell of cooking oil fills the air as she prepares to open for business. Nancy reflects on the absence of her daughter Miriam, who would normally complain about the lingering odor infiltrating the house. She calls out for her son Gerard but receives no reply, knowing he often prefers socializing at local pubs now that the chip shop is successful. The thick fumes compel Nancy to switch on a noisy fan and eventually open the shop’s door to let the smoke escape, despite concerns about disturbing neighbors or attracting unwanted attention.
Nancy recalls a recent council motion criticizing businesses like hers for causing disturbances, resulting in restrictions on her operating hours during weekdays. The chip shop’s busiest times are weekends, which often disrupt the peace for families living above the shops. Her unease grows when she notices Mr. Roderick Wallace, the Bank of Ireland manager who had previously denied her a loan, and his wife Dolores watching her through the window. Known critics of her business, the Wallaces confront Nancy, voicing complaints about the shop’s odor and cleanliness, and suggesting she violates planning regulations.
The confrontation escalates with sharp exchanges, as Nancy boldly challenges the Wallaces, hinting at their impending transfer and expressing the community’s likely relief at their departure. Gerard observes the scene from across the square, providing Nancy with a measure of support. Despite the tension, Nancy remains resolute and unyielding, rebuffing their provocations with defiant remarks. Later, she worries that any gossip about the altercation will damage her reputation further, reinforcing the perception that her business lowers the tone of the Market Square.
As night falls and business slows, Nancy prepares to close early, turning off the noisy fan and leaving the door open to clear the fumes. Two other figures, a man and a woman from a troubled local family known for their disruptive behavior and heavy drinking, appear at the window demanding service. Despite their persistent knocking and aggressive demands, Nancy refuses to reopen, prioritizing order and safety in her shop. She finishes her cleanup quietly, signaling the end of another challenging day balancing community tensions and the demands of running her business.
FAQs
1. How does the chapter illustrate the challenges Nancy faces as a chip shop owner in a small town?
Answer:
The chapter highlights multiple challenges Nancy confronts as a chip shop owner. Firstly, the physical environment of the shop presents difficulties—strong cooking oil fumes that irritate her eyes and cause complaints from neighbors. She tries to mitigate this by using a noisy fan and opening the door to let smoke escape, but these are only partial solutions. Secondly, Nancy faces social opposition from the town’s business elite, exemplified by Mr. Roderick Wallace and his wife Dolores, who criticize her shop’s cleanliness and odor, and remind her of planning regulation breaches. This antagonism is compounded by personal insults and social snubs, such as Wallace’s daughter’s rude remarks to Nancy’s daughters. Lastly, Nancy must manage difficult customers, like the drunken couple demanding service past closing time, underscoring the daily stress and social tensions involved in her business.2. What role do social class and community tensions play in the interactions between Nancy and other characters in the chapter?
Answer:
Social class and community tensions are central to the chapter’s conflicts. Nancy’s chip shop sits in a town square where business owners and residents have differing interests and social standings. The Wallaces, representing the more affluent and influential class, openly disdain Nancy’s business and her family, reflecting class prejudice and social exclusion. Nancy’s retort to their planned transfer and her use of blunt language reveal her resistance to their condescension. Additionally, the drunken couple from the soldiers’ cottages, marginalized and barred from many pubs, represent another social group with their own struggles and aggressive behavior. These interactions illustrate a community divided by class, economic status, and social acceptance, highlighting the friction that arises when different groups coexist in a shared space.3. Analyze how Nancy’s character is developed through her responses to the various conflicts presented in the chapter.
Answer:
Nancy’s character emerges as resilient, pragmatic, and defiant in the face of adversity. She manages the physical discomfort of the chip shop environment with practical measures, showing her dedication to her business. Her interactions with the Wallaces reveal a strong-willed woman who does not hesitate to confront social snobbery and injustice, standing her ground despite their insults. Nancy’s sharp retorts and refusal to be intimidated demonstrate her assertiveness and pride. Meanwhile, her handling of the drunken couple—ignoring their aggressive demands and sticking to her closing time—reflects her firm boundaries and professionalism. Overall, Nancy is portrayed as a determined individual navigating complex social and economic pressures with grit and dignity.4. How might Nancy’s situation reflect broader themes about small-town life and the struggle of small business owners?
Answer:
Nancy’s experiences encapsulate broader themes common in small-town life and entrepreneurship, such as community scrutiny, economic survival, and social stratification. Small business owners often face regulatory pressures, neighbor complaints, and competition from more established or affluent community members, as seen with the Urban District Council’s motion and the Wallaces’ opposition. The tension between maintaining livelihood and conforming to social expectations reflects the precarious balance many small entrepreneurs must manage. Additionally, the social dynamics—where certain families or groups are marginalized or stigmatized—highlight issues of class and exclusion that permeate small communities. Nancy’s story thus mirrors the challenges of resilience, identity, and social negotiation faced by many in similar contexts.5. If you were advising Nancy on how to improve her relationship with the community and reduce conflict, what strategies might you suggest based on the chapter?
Answer:
To improve community relations and reduce conflict, Nancy could consider several strategies. First, addressing the odor and cleanliness issues more proactively—perhaps investing in better ventilation or odor control—could reduce complaints from neighbors and authorities. Engaging in dialogue with local officials and business owners, including the Wallaces, might help build understanding and find compromises, such as clearer operating hours or noise management. Hosting community events or offering promotions could foster goodwill and counter negative perceptions. Additionally, establishing clear policies for difficult customers, like the drunken couple, and possibly coordinating with local support services might reduce disruptions. Ultimately, balancing business needs with community concerns through communication and practical adjustments could improve Nancy’s standing and ease tensions.
Quotes
1. “The smell of cooking oil filled the chip shop. Nancy was wringing out a dishcloth to clean the counter before she opened for business. Trying to think who else was in the house, she realised with relief that her daughter Miriam was out. If Miriam were here, she would come running down from her bedroom to say what she always said: that the smell was eating its way into the upper storeys of the house and getting into her clothes and into the very pores of her skin.”
This opening quote sets the scene and introduces the tension between Nancy’s livelihood and its impact on her family, highlighting the pervasive nature of the chip shop’s presence and the personal cost it entails.
2. “Some months before, when a motion had been passed at the monthly meeting of the Urban District Council denouncing the disturbance caused by businesses such as hers, she had agreed to close the chip shop before the pubs did on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. But these were not the busy nights. The chip shop did most of its business at the weekend, disturbing the peace enjoyed by the families who lived above their shops and offices.”
This passage captures the conflict between Nancy’s business needs and the community’s desire for peace, illustrating the ongoing struggle between economic survival and social harmony.
3. “‘If your husband was alive,’ Roderick went on, ‘I’m sure he would join with the rest of us in deploring this.’”
This quote reveals the social and personal antagonism Nancy faces, emphasizing the judgment and alienation imposed by local authority figures, and marking a key moment of confrontation.
4. “‘I believe you are to be transferred soon,’ she said. ‘And a lot of people in Enniscorthy will be happy to see the end of you both.’”
Nancy’s sharp retort here signifies a turning point where she asserts herself against the Wallaces, asserting her defiance and the community’s divided loyalties.
5. “‘Will you open up, for fuck’s sake,’ the woman shouted. ‘We’re starving.’”
This raw and desperate plea from customers late at night encapsulates the chip shop’s role as a haven for marginalized individuals, underscoring the social complexity and the human needs intertwined with Nancy’s business.