A Mother

by

James Joyce

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Mr Fitzpatrick Character Analysis

Mr Fitzpatrick is the secretary of the Eire Abu Society. Mr Fitzpatrick has a “flat” Dublin accent and a “vacant” face, and he doesn’t seem too disappointed when the concert doesn’t go well. When Mrs Kearney meets him, he is wearing a brown hat, associating him with the dullness and decay Joyce felt pervaded Dublin at the turn of the 20th century. At the Thursday night concert, he behaves disruptively, talking loudly with his friends during the performance and irritating Mrs Kearney. When Mr Holohan refers Mrs Kearney to him to get her money before the Saturday concert, he doesn’t seem to be able to help her. Mrs Kearney prevents Kathleen from playing without pay, so Mr Fitzpatrick pays her half—actually, four shillings short of half—of the eight guineas she was promised to placate her. However, like the other members of the Society, he ultimately doesn’t seem too invested in either the concert series or Irish Nationalist goals.

Mr Fitzpatrick Quotes in A Mother

The A Mother quotes below are all either spoken by Mr Fitzpatrick or refer to Mr Fitzpatrick. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Class, Ambition, and Corruption Theme Icon
).
A Mother Quotes

She called Mr Fitzpatrick away from his screen and told him that her daughter had signed for four concerts and that, of course, according to the terms of the contract, she should receive the sum originally stipulated for whether the society gave the four concerts or not. Mr Fitzpatrick, who did not catch the point at issue very quickly, seemed unable to resolve the difficulty and said that he would bring the matter before the Committee. Mrs Kearney's anger began to flutter in her cheek and she had all she could do to keep from asking:

“And who is the Cometty, pray?”

But she knew that it would not be ladylike to do that: so she was silent.

Related Characters: Mrs Kearney (speaker), Kathleen, Mr Fitzpatrick
Related Symbols: Eight Guineas
Page Number: 139
Explanation and Analysis:

Mr Fitzpatrick held a few banknotes in his hand. He counted out four into Mrs Kearney's hand and said she would get the other half at the interval. Mrs Kearney said:

“This is four shillings short.”

But Kathleen gathered in her skirt and said: Now, Mr Bell, to the first item, who was shaking like an aspen. The singer and the accompanist went out together. The noise in the hall died away. There was a pause of a few seconds: and then the piano was heard.

Related Characters: Mrs Kearney (speaker), Kathleen (speaker), Mr Fitzpatrick, Mr Bell
Related Symbols: Eight Guineas
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 145
Explanation and Analysis:

Mrs Kearney said that the Committee had treated her scandalously. She had spared neither trouble nor expense and this was how she was repaid.

They thought they had only a girl to deal with and that, therefore, they could ride roughshod over her. But she would show them their mistake. They wouldn't have dared to have treated her like that if she had been a man. But she would see that her daughter got her rights: she wouldn't be fooled.

Related Characters: Mrs Kearney, Mr Holohan, Kathleen, Mr Fitzpatrick
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 146
Explanation and Analysis:

Her face was inundated with an angry colour and she looked as if she would attack someone with her hands.

“I’m asking for my rights,” she said.

“You might have some sense of decency,” said Mr Holohan.

“Might I, indeed? ... And when I ask when my daughter is going to be paid I can’t get a civil answer.”

She tossed her head and assumed a haughty voice:

“You must speak to the secretary. It's not my business. I’m a great fellow fol-the-diddle-I-do.”

“I thought you were a lady,” said Mr Holohan, walking away from her abruptly.

After that Mrs Kearney's conduct was condemned on all hands: everyone approved of what the Committee had done.

Related Characters: Mrs Kearney (speaker), Mr Holohan (speaker), Kathleen, Mr Fitzpatrick
Page Number: 147
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mr Fitzpatrick Quotes in A Mother

The A Mother quotes below are all either spoken by Mr Fitzpatrick or refer to Mr Fitzpatrick. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Class, Ambition, and Corruption Theme Icon
).
A Mother Quotes

She called Mr Fitzpatrick away from his screen and told him that her daughter had signed for four concerts and that, of course, according to the terms of the contract, she should receive the sum originally stipulated for whether the society gave the four concerts or not. Mr Fitzpatrick, who did not catch the point at issue very quickly, seemed unable to resolve the difficulty and said that he would bring the matter before the Committee. Mrs Kearney's anger began to flutter in her cheek and she had all she could do to keep from asking:

“And who is the Cometty, pray?”

But she knew that it would not be ladylike to do that: so she was silent.

Related Characters: Mrs Kearney (speaker), Kathleen, Mr Fitzpatrick
Related Symbols: Eight Guineas
Page Number: 139
Explanation and Analysis:

Mr Fitzpatrick held a few banknotes in his hand. He counted out four into Mrs Kearney's hand and said she would get the other half at the interval. Mrs Kearney said:

“This is four shillings short.”

But Kathleen gathered in her skirt and said: Now, Mr Bell, to the first item, who was shaking like an aspen. The singer and the accompanist went out together. The noise in the hall died away. There was a pause of a few seconds: and then the piano was heard.

Related Characters: Mrs Kearney (speaker), Kathleen (speaker), Mr Fitzpatrick, Mr Bell
Related Symbols: Eight Guineas
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 145
Explanation and Analysis:

Mrs Kearney said that the Committee had treated her scandalously. She had spared neither trouble nor expense and this was how she was repaid.

They thought they had only a girl to deal with and that, therefore, they could ride roughshod over her. But she would show them their mistake. They wouldn't have dared to have treated her like that if she had been a man. But she would see that her daughter got her rights: she wouldn't be fooled.

Related Characters: Mrs Kearney, Mr Holohan, Kathleen, Mr Fitzpatrick
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 146
Explanation and Analysis:

Her face was inundated with an angry colour and she looked as if she would attack someone with her hands.

“I’m asking for my rights,” she said.

“You might have some sense of decency,” said Mr Holohan.

“Might I, indeed? ... And when I ask when my daughter is going to be paid I can’t get a civil answer.”

She tossed her head and assumed a haughty voice:

“You must speak to the secretary. It's not my business. I’m a great fellow fol-the-diddle-I-do.”

“I thought you were a lady,” said Mr Holohan, walking away from her abruptly.

After that Mrs Kearney's conduct was condemned on all hands: everyone approved of what the Committee had done.

Related Characters: Mrs Kearney (speaker), Mr Holohan (speaker), Kathleen, Mr Fitzpatrick
Page Number: 147
Explanation and Analysis: