Counterparts

by

James Joyce

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Counterparts makes teaching easy.

Weathers Character Analysis

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 an arm-wrestling match, deepening Farrington’s already prodound sense of indignity. Like Mr. Alleyne, Weathers can be interpreted through the lens of Ireland’s disgrace and indignity in the face of colonial oppression. Weathers, an Englishman, defeats the Irishman Farrington in a contest that one character explicitly describes as one of “national pride.” Thus, Farrington’s defeat in test of sheer strength is therefore symbolically linked to Ireland’s subjugation by an unworthy colonial master, Great Britain. Furthermore, Weathers is portrayed as a man who likes having drinks bought for him without buying any in return, and he laughs at this “Irish hospitality”—a moment that perhaps gestures to the British colonizers taking advantage of the Irish.

Weathers Quotes in Counterparts

The Counterparts quotes below are all either spoken by Weathers or refer to Weathers. 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:
Resentment, Anger, and Indignity Theme Icon
).
Counterparts Quotes

Weathers was showing his biceps muscle to the company and boasting so much that the other two had called on Farrington to uphold the national honour. Farrington pulled up his sleeve accordingly and showed his biceps muscle to the company. The two arms were examined and compared and finally it was agreed to have a trial of strength.

Related Characters: Farrington, Weathers, Paddy Leonard, O’Halloran
Related Symbols: Arm-Wrestling
Page Number: 91-92
Explanation and Analysis:

Farrington’s dark wine-coloured face flushed darker still with anger and humiliation at having been defeated by such a stripling.

Related Characters: Farrington, Weathers
Related Symbols: Alcohol
Page Number: 92
Explanation and Analysis:

He was full of smoldering anger and revengefulness. He felt humiliated and discontented; he did not even feel drunk; and he had only twopence in his pocket. He cursed everything. He had done for himself in the office, pawned his watch, spent all his money; and he had not even got drunk.

Related Characters: Farrington, Weathers
Related Symbols: Alcohol
Page Number: 93
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Counterparts LitChart as a printable PDF.
Counterparts PDF

Weathers Quotes in Counterparts

The Counterparts quotes below are all either spoken by Weathers or refer to Weathers. 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:
Resentment, Anger, and Indignity Theme Icon
).
Counterparts Quotes

Weathers was showing his biceps muscle to the company and boasting so much that the other two had called on Farrington to uphold the national honour. Farrington pulled up his sleeve accordingly and showed his biceps muscle to the company. The two arms were examined and compared and finally it was agreed to have a trial of strength.

Related Characters: Farrington, Weathers, Paddy Leonard, O’Halloran
Related Symbols: Arm-Wrestling
Page Number: 91-92
Explanation and Analysis:

Farrington’s dark wine-coloured face flushed darker still with anger and humiliation at having been defeated by such a stripling.

Related Characters: Farrington, Weathers
Related Symbols: Alcohol
Page Number: 92
Explanation and Analysis:

He was full of smoldering anger and revengefulness. He felt humiliated and discontented; he did not even feel drunk; and he had only twopence in his pocket. He cursed everything. He had done for himself in the office, pawned his watch, spent all his money; and he had not even got drunk.

Related Characters: Farrington, Weathers
Related Symbols: Alcohol
Page Number: 93
Explanation and Analysis: