Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Little Cloud, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Resignation vs. Empowerment
The Illusions of Success
The Prison of the Mundane
Summary
Analysis
Little Chandler reflects on seeing his old friend Gallaher off at the North Wall when Gallaher left Dublin eight years ago. Little Chandler recalls admiring Gallaher’s appearance, well-traveled air, and fearlessness. He thinks that not many men have Gallaher’s talents and that “he had deserved to win.” Since lunchtime today, Little Chandler hasn’t been able to stop thinking about Gallaher’s invitation to meet, and about the city of London where Gallaher now lives.
Little Chandler’s nostalgic reflections on Gallaher imply that he hasn’t seen his old friend in the years since he moved away. Chandler’s preoccupation with and clear admiration of Gallaher—particularly the word choice that Gallaher “deserved to win”—suggest that Chandler sees life as a contest or game of winners and losers.
Themes
Chandler is nicknamed “Little” because of his small and delicate appearance. He is slightly below average height, with small, white hands, a fragile frame, and a quiet voice. Little Chandler also has “fair silken hair,” a perfumed handkerchief, well-manicured fingernails, and small, white teeth like those of a child.
Little Chandler’s physical description as small and weak sets up the theme of Chandler’s resignation to his fate and powerlessness to change it: his being “little” indicates not only his small stature but his lack of strength and manly assertiveness. The details of his “fair silken hair,” well-groomed appearance, and small teeth make him seem feminine and even childlike, further portraying him as a weak, inadequate man by traditional standards.
Themes
Little Chandler continues to sit at his desk at King’s Inn, where he works, and ponder his old friend. Gallaher has become very successful as a journalist for the London Press in the eight years since he left Dublin. Lost in thought, Little Chandler frequently turns to look out the window, taking a break from his “tiresome writing.” He notices the sun setting on some old men sleeping on benches and sees children as they play and scream in the streets. These sights make Little Chandler feel sad and resigned, and he muses that it is useless to fight against fate and fortune. His thoughts turn to his poetry books at home. He bought them when he was a bachelor, but since getting married, he has been too shy to read them to his wife. Instead, Little Chandler reads alone to console himself.
Little Chandler’s thoughts of Gallaher consume his mind—their meeting is clearly very important for Chandler. Once again, Chandler’s thoughts of Gallaher’s career achievements indicate that he sees his old friend as a model of success. By contrast, Chandler feels passive and sad in his own life; his work is “tiresome,” not inspiring or energizing. Furthermore, the passage’s imagery—the sun setting on the sleeping men and playing children—suggests life winding down and losing vitality, mirroring Chandler’s own sense of fated resignation. Meanwhile, Chandler’s interest in poetry is evidently not a vocation or even a hobby, but an unrealized dream and a consolation for his sadness. The fact that Chandler is too shy to read poetry to his wife suggests that his personal life is also lacking and it foreshadows the couple’s strained relationship that comes to a head at the end of the story.
Themes
Literary Devices
At the appointed time, Little Chandler leaves his office and makes his way through the streets. He passes “grimy children” crawling up doorsteps and avoids all of the “vermin-like” people in the street as he walks. Even so, he is full of joy at the prospect of meeting Gallaher at a fancy restaurant called Corless’s, which is patronized by a wealthy, stylish clientele. Little Chandler has never been to this establishment before, and he pictures the people he will see: well-dressed women and men dining on oysters and drinking liqueurs after the theater, attended on by waiters who can speak German and French. Little Chandler usually walks the streets somewhat fearfully, not looking into the buildings he passes. However, he sometimes deliberately chooses to walk down dark, narrow streets, walking boldly though still trembling with fear.
Though Little Chandler has been characterized as weak, passive, and melancholy, the impending meeting with Gallagher seems to imbue Chandler with a newfound sense of assertiveness and self-worth. Chandler’s thoughts as he walks the Dublin streets reveal that he’s beginning to feel superior to his surroundings, as evidenced by his perception of the “grimy” children and “vermin-like” people—to Chandler, they seem like rodents or insects, dirty and subhuman. However, Little Chandler begins to feel more hopeful as he imagines the opulent crowd at Corless’s. Chandler’s fantasies about wealthy, sophisticated people show that he yearns for a more successful, cosmopolitan, exciting life. Meanwhile, the fact that the usually-fearful Chandler does occasionally push himself to face his fears suggests that he at least has the potential for boldness and self-assertion.
Themes
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Continuing on his way to Corless’s, Little Chandler thinks about Gallaher. No one would have believed eight years ago that Gallaher would become a such a successful London journalist. He drank, partied, and borrowed money. In fact, it’s rumored that Gallaher had to leave Dublin because of money troubles. However, Little Chandler remembers that his friend always showed signs of future achievement. No one could deny that Gallaher was obviously talented and had something special in him that couldn’t be defined. Even when Gallaher faced setbacks and was low on money, he “kept up a bold face.” Everyone seemed to admire Gallaher.
In Chandler’s mind, Gallaher represent boldness, talent, and success. Gallaher comes off as a reckless, irresponsible bohemian. Yet despite his carefree lifestyle, he defied expectations by becoming successful in London—what Gallaher lacks in responsibility, he makes up for with talent, self-confidence, and self-possession, enabling him to succeed against the odds and win the good opinion of others. At this point, Gallaher represents an idealized picture of success to Chandler—and given the story’s characterization of Chandler as weak and unsuccessful thus far, it seems as though Gallaher’s character is somewhat of a foil to Chandler’s.
Themes
Little Chandler picks up his pace as he continues to walk the streets, repulsed for the first time by the city’s grubbiness. He notices the “poor stunted houses” and likens them to a group of vagrants huddled together. He thinks of writing a poem to capture this image. Feeling inspired, he wonders if Gallaher could get his poem published in London. Little Chandler then loses himself in dreams of becoming a successful poet. He believes he has the right “melancholy” temperament and dreams of finding recognition by a small, appreciative readership. Little Chandler imagines English critics praising him as part of the “Celtic school” and makes up sentences they would write about him. He even ponders changing his name, incorporating his mother’s more Irish-sounding name to become Thomas Malone Chandler—or, even better, T. Malone Chandler. He gets so lost in these thoughts that he passes his turn for Corless’s and has to go back.
Chandler’s thoughts turn from Gallaher to his environment and his own dreams of success. He continues to feel more empowered as he walks to the restaurant, seemingly because being associated with Gallaher (a successful writer) and the sophisticated crowd at Corless’s boosts Chandler’s confidence. Again, Chandler sees Dublin as unappealing and grubby, indicating his growing dissatisfaction with the city and his sense of superiority to it. Calling the houses “stunted” suggests that Dublin somehow limits its inhabitants’ potential, implying that Dublin has also stunted Chandler. He is beginning to think that he is meant for better things and he dreams of recognition outside of Ireland by sophisticated English critics. The “Celtic school” refers to a group of early 20th-century Irish writers who promoted Irish culture and heritage. Chandler, however, has no affinity for Ireland nor any desire to promote it—he merely sees being part of the Celtic school as a means of achieving recognition and success. To this end, he envisions the slight deception of changing his name to capitalize on his Irishness for personal benefit. Meanwhile, missing his turn subtly shows how disconnected from reality these fantasies truly are.
Themes
Literary Devices
Finally arriving at the restaurant, Little Chandler is at first confused by the sights and sounds and feels that everyone is looking at him. However, collecting himself, he realizes that no one is staring. Then Little Chandler sees Gallaher, who addresses him warmly and orders malt whiskey for Little Chandler and himself. Gallaher comments on his own aged appearance. He is balding and pale, with shapeless and pale lips. His eyes are blue and he wears an orange tie. Gallaher attributes his worn appearance to the stresses of his job as a journalist and the pressure of always looking for new stories. Their drinks arrive—Gallaher drinks his whiskey straight, but Little Chandler dilutes his with water, telling his friend that he doesn’t drink much. They toast to old times and old friends.
Here, the contrast between Little Chandler and Gallaher is highlighted: Chandler seems like a fish out of water, timid and self-conscious. However, he does gather himself together, suggesting that he has the potential to be confident and capable. Gallaher, by contrast, is talkative, easygoing, and self-possessed—he is also candid and self-deprecating, as seen when he comments on his own looks. Though Gallaher has been successful, his aged appearance combined with his complaints about stress suggest that the life of a writer is not nearly as glamorous as Chandler naïvely imagines. Meanwhile, Gallaher’s eyes and tie are symbolic: his blue eyes hearken to St. Patrick’s blue, traditionally associated with Ireland, while the orange of his tie suggests an association with England since orange is the color associated with Irish Protestants (Protestantism having been brought to Ireland during English reign). The fact that Gallaher is wearing both of these colors suggests that he has become somewhat of a hybrid Anglo-Irishman during his time abroad.
Themes
Little Chandler and Gallaher begin catching up. They discuss their mutual acquaintances: some have done well, while others have fallen on hard times. Gallaher notices that Little Chandler hasn’t changed. He is still as serious as he was eight years ago when he would lecture Gallaher during his hangovers. Gallaher tells Little Chandler he should travel more, especially after learning that Little Chandler has only been to the Isle of Man. He encourages Little Chandler to go to Paris. Little Chandler asks Gallaher if Paris is really as beautiful as people say it is, and Gallaher seems a bit confused by the question. He talks about Paris nightlife at the Moulin Rouge and other bohemian cafés, calling the city “hot stuff.” Little Chandler feels envious of Gallaher, though he also observes a new vulgarity in his friend’s way of talking. However, Gallaher’s old charm is still present under his showy manners.
The two men’s conversation, further displays their differences and further characterizes Gallaher as cosmopolitan, if a bit vulgar. Little Chandler has remained the same since eight years ago: from Gallaher’s point of view, Chandler still seems conventional and dutiful. Gallaher also sees Little Chandler as provincial and limited by his lack of travel since Chandler has only ever visited the Isle of Man, a small island between Ireland and England. Contrasting with Chandler’s provincialism, Gallaher has traveled more widely—to Paris, for instance. However, his preference for nightlife over art and culture suggests that his old partying ways have persisted and grown. Though still charming, Chandler is beginning to see that Gallaher has become coarse and vulgar, as shown his speech (for example, referring to Paris’s nightlife as “hot stuff”). Chandler is beginning to revise his idealization of Gallaher as the picture of worldly success—
Themes
Literary Devices
Gallaher continues telling Little Chandler about Paris. Little Chandler asks about the city’s reputation for immorality. Gallaher seems to evade the question, in response, making “a catholic gesture” and claiming that “every place is immoral.” He sings the praises of the Paris student balls and the cocottes (prostitutes). As they continue to drink, Gallaher tells Little Chandler stories of the corruption and vices he’s observed in his European travels. These stories include secrets from religious institutions and the practices of fashionable society. He ends his monologue with a scandalous story about an English duchess. Little Chandler is left feeling “astonished” by Gallaher’s tales.
Gallaher has become part of the morally-questionable, seedy underbelly of nightlife in continental Europe. Gallaher’s “catholic gesture” refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the lowercase word “catholic” that means broad and wide-ranging. As such, Gallaher presents himself to be open-minded, cosmopolitan, and a bit world-weary. However, the details of his stories focus on gossipy tales of scandal and debauchery, showing that Gallaher has become associated with—perhaps even corrupted by—this world. His earlier tendencies toward recklessness have found fertile ground for expression during his travels. The more reserved, unworldly Little Chandler is “astonished,” not knowing what to make of Gallaher’s racy tales.
Themes
The conversation then turns to Little Chandler’s life over the past eight years. Little Chandler shares the news that he recently got married and has an infant son. He invites Gallaher to spend an evening with his family, but Gallaher declines because he has to leave Dublin the next day. They squeeze in one last drink, and the now rather tipsy Little Chandler reflects on his feelings about Gallaher. He feels jealous of his friend’s success, which is heightened because Gallaher is beneath him in birth and education. He thinks that Gallaher blew off his invitation to visit his family. Little Chandler imagines that he could do even greater things than Gallaher’s “tawdry journalism” if he had a chance. He feels that Gallaher looks down on him and wishes to reassert himself.
As their conversation begins to wind down, Little Chandler’s feelings toward Gallaher shift from admiration to resentment. As a result, Little Chandler speaks of his small family with pride and even wishes to show them off to Gallaher. Perhaps because of Little Chandler’s drunkenness, his resentment begins to build, and he feels slighted by Gallaher. Chandler’s tendency to imagine success rather than take steps to achieve it shows here as well. He feels the need to put down Gallaher’s profession as “tawdry”—morally questionable and seedy—despite his idolization of Gallaher’s journalistic talent mere hours ago, which suggests that Chandler is deeply bitter about how his own life ended up.
Themes
Little Chandler teases Gallaher about perhaps being married the next time he visits Dublin. However, Gallaher dismisses this possibility, saying he still wants to see more of the world before he’s tied down. An irritated Little Chandler persists, though, saying that one day Gallaher will put his “head in the sack” and get married. Gallaher concedes that he might marry, but not for love. Instead, he would marry for money, choosing one of the “thousands of rich Germans and Jews, rotten with money” that he has seen during his travels. Gallaher ends their meeting by tossing back the rest of his drink, laughing loudly, and saying that being tied to one woman “must get a bit stale.”
Little Chandler tries to establish some superiority over Gallaher by teasing him for being single, implying that as a married man, Chandler is above him. This ploy to put himself over Gallaher backfires, though: Gallaher’s response shows a negative, belittling, even contemptuous attitude toward marriage. His use of the slang phrase for getting married—to put one’s “head in the sack”—likens marriage to going to execution (when hangings were common, prisoners being led to the scaffold often had their heads covered). Gallaher’s vulgar, materialistic attitude is evident once more in his stereotyping of European women, and his reference to marriage as “stale” foreshadows the end of the story in which the reader sees Little Chandler’s own deeply unsatisfying marriage.
Themes
Back at home, Little Chandler sits alone, holding his infant son. His wife, Annie, who bears sole responsibility for taking care of the baby (with some help from her sister), has gone out to get tea and sugar. She is in a bad mood because Little Chandler was late for tea and forgot to pick up coffee on his way home. Little Chandler ponders a photograph of Annie. He recalls nervously buying her the blouse she’s wearing in the picture. At first, Annie refused it because of its high price. Yet after trying the blouse on, she decided to keep it, kissing and thanking Little Chandler.
Chandler’s home life is portrayed as mundane and dissatisfying. It is implied that Chandler forgot to pick up coffee on his way home because of his tipsiness—and though understandably annoyed by her husband’s forgetfulness, Annie also comes off as grumpy and overworked by her domestic duties. In Chandler’s reminiscence about the blouse, it is revealed that he timidly tries to please Annie and he might sometimes succeed. However, in Chandler’s mind, Annie also is characterized as vain, materialistic, and changeable. They do not seem to have a close or fulfilling relationship, and their mutual unhappiness seems to suggest that they both feel imprisoned by married life and their domestic duties.
Themes
Looking closer at Annie’s photo, Little Chandler notices that while his wife is pretty, she also appears cold, “unconscious and ladylike.” He remembers the rich Jewish women Gallaher mentioned, with their “dark Oriental eyes.” Little Chandler wonders why he married Annie. He looks around the room, dissatisfied with its “prim and pretty” furniture. He asks himself if it is too late to escape and live a life like Gallaher’s in London. If Little Chandler could publish a book, he might be able to do the same.
Just as Little Chandler has come to see Dublin as not good enough for him, he sees his home life as inferior and stifling and he fantasizes about escaping it. Chandler’s low opinion of Annie is incompatible with the life he truly wants to live: he imagines himself as an intellectual and an artist, whereas he thinks of his wife as lacking feeling and substance, too conventional and uptight. Drifting again into fantasy, Little Chandler desires new, more exotic experiences, as shown by his memory of the women from Gallaher’s stories and their “dark Oriental eyes.” Chandler is even dissatisfied with the room’s furniture: it is too much like his wife who chose it, too “prim and pretty,” conventional and lacking the romance and style Chandler idolizes. Chandler’s dreams of emulating Gallaher and publishing a book of poetry is yet another way for him to escape into his imagination as an alternative to his mundane environment.
Themes
Literary Devices
Next, Little Chandler picks up a book of poetry by Byron and starts to read it. He reads wistful lines about a man visiting his lover’s tomb, feeling the poetry’s depth and yearning to write poetry like it. He thinks of all the feelings he would like to express, including his impressions of Dublin from earlier in the day. Then, the baby wakes up and begins to cry. Little Chandler tries to calm his son, but he only cries more. Unable to read, Little Chandler’s frustration grows. He thinks to himself that not only can he not read, “He couldn’t do anything […] He was a prisoner for life.” In anger, he shouts, “Stop!” in the baby’s face.
Little Chandler’s choice of Byron is significant. English Romantic poet Lord Byron lived and travelled widely throughout continental Europe, in voluntary exile from England due to rumors of personal scandal. He thus represents the same sort of sophistication, passion, and free-spirited defiance of convention that Gallaher embodies, and for which Chandler yearns. However, Chandler is pulled out of this fantasy and back to the mundanity of his home when his reading is interrupted his crying baby. Chandler’s feelings in response to this ordinary reality of parenthood are exaggerated: he feels so frustrated by his life that this annoyance makes him think in absolute terms that he is completely powerless and trapped for the rest of his life by the domestic duties represented by the baby. His intense frustration erupts in his yelling at his son, a rather irrational response considering the baby isn’t purposefully crying to spite Chandler.
Themes
Literary Devices
Little Chandler’s shouting only frightens the baby, who begins to cry so hard that Little Chandler worries the baby might die. Just at that moment, Annie returns, frantic to find her child so upset. She glares at her husband, angrily asking what he did to their child. Little Chandler sees the hatred in his wife’s eyes. She ignores his excuses, takes the baby, and begins soothing him. Little Chandler falls back, standing out of the light and feeling his cheeks flush with shame. As the child stops crying, Little Chandler’s eyes fill with “tears of remorse.”
The story’s conclusion encapsulates Little Chandler’s resignation and imprisonment by his mundane, ordinary life. As would be expected, Little Chandler’s yelling at the crying baby only makes the situation worse, and his frustrated sense of powerlessness shows in his paranoid fantasy that the baby could die. Annie seems to be equally disenchanted with her life and particularly her marriage, as her quickness to blame Little Chandler for the crying baby suggests a great deal of underlying resentment. Chandler’s total estrangement from Annie is reinforced by the image of hate in her eyes. At the story’s conclusion, Little Chandler is a pitiful figure, like an infant himself: uncomforted and alone, weak, and powerless to change his state. His dreams of becoming leaving Ireland and becoming a writer like Gallaher have passed just as quickly as they came, and he has essentially become the childlike figure suggested earlier by his physical appearance. Chandler’s “tears of remorse” show not only regret for yelling at the baby, but also regret for the life choices that have led to such a defeated, hopeless state.
Themes
