Farrington
Farrington is the protagonist of the story and Mr. Alleyne’s employee. He works in a legal office as a copy clerk, meaning he copies legal contracts by hand (in Ireland in the early 1900s…
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Mr. Alleyne
Mr. Alleyne is Farrington’s boss at the legal office and the story’s antagonist. He is from Northern Ireland, which means that he has a highly distinctive accent, something that Farrington has mocked in the…
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Weathers
Weathers is the English “artiste” performing at a local theater. Although he is a showman, which was not thought of as a masculine or noble profession at the time, he beats Farrington—twice—in…
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Tom
Tom is one of Farrington’s children, and he is portrayed as a scared and innocent young child. Joyce portrays him as an abandoned boy, with his mother away at church and his father out…
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Minor Characters
Miss Delacour
Miss Delacour is Mr. Alleyne’s stylish and attractive client. She is present when Farrington humiliates Mr. Alleyne.
Paddy Leonard
Paddy Leonard is one of Farrington’s friends and drinking buddies. He and O’Halloran both goad Farrington into arm-wrestling with Weathers “to uphold the national honour.”
O’Halloran
O’Halloran is another one of Farrington’s drinking buddies. Along with Paddy Leonard, O’Halloran urges Farrington to undertake an arm-wrestling match with Weathers.
Nosey Flynn
Nosey Flynn is another one of Farrington’s drinking buddies.
Higgins
Higgins is another one of Farrington’s drinking buddies.
Miss Parker
Miss Parker is Mr. Alleyne’s assistant.
