Individual Analysis
“Homesickness”
First, “Homesickness,” by George Moore, is a story of a man, James Bryden, who returns to Ireland after settling in America thirteen years earlier. His return to Ireland was because of advice from his doctor in hopes that the travel would provoke his healing and better his health. Once arriving back to the small village he previously resided in, he realizing nothing had truly changed, and that the people “were all very poor--poorer, perhaps, than when he left them” (Moore 4). Through his discussions with the villagers, it is apparent that they have fantasized images of America, because all they talk about was “the wages a man could get in America, and the long hours of work,” (Moore 4). They “all agreed …show more content…
“On the eve of an emigrant’s departure [it] replicated the rites of a funeral, including poteen, dancing, and keening, reinforce[ing] the idea of leaving Ireland as a death-in-life” (Cullingford 60). Through the interactions between the characters, we, as readers, become aware of many of the emotions, images, and reasons associated with Irish emigration. Not only do we get to see the affects emigration has on the family, but also we become aware of the various reasons for emigration. For the parents, the father “struggled with vague and peculiar ideas that wandered about in [his mind, and] he could make nothing of all of his thoughts, but a lump always came up his throat,” (O’Flaherty 134) and the mother was “unable to think intelligibly about her two children going away” (O’Flaherty 139). Yet, for the children, it was about the potential for a better life, because the only thing people got out of the land was “poverty and hard work and potatoes and salt” (O’Flaherty 136). Different from the parents, the son “felt very strong and manly recounting what he was going to do when he got to Boston. He would earn great money, [… and] for that moment he forgot the ache in his heart that the though of leaving his father inspired in him” (O’Flaherty 136). The daughter, on the other hand, …show more content…
Once everyone leaves the party and the normal daily activities begin, the two children no longer had a place in their traditionally home life and routine. This shows that even though they are pursuing new opportunities and leaving the rural farm, life for their families and communities continue without them, and other members of their families and communities pick up the responsibilities and tasks that they previously completed. Even though there is a sense of exile from their home routine, both the children and family wanted to reminded of each other. When leaving the son “picked a piece of loose whitewash from the wall and put it in his pocket” (O’Flaherty 146) and the mother tried to “keep a living photography of them before her mind” (O’Flaherty 145). Through the sons picking of the piece of whitewash, it shows that he wanted to have a physical reminder of home when he is in America. Also it suggests the fear of going to America, because the piece of whitewash, even though small, can serve as a physical reminder of home and something to comfort the son if he feels homesick. The experience of children leaving their families was extremely common for Irish families, and to comfort them members of the community would tell them “there was nothing that time [would] not cure” (O’Flaherty 146). Even though the children were excited about emigrating, the thought of leaving home forever evoked
“Homesickness”
First, “Homesickness,” by George Moore, is a story of a man, James Bryden, who returns to Ireland after settling in America thirteen years earlier. His return to Ireland was because of advice from his doctor in hopes that the travel would provoke his healing and better his health. Once arriving back to the small village he previously resided in, he realizing nothing had truly changed, and that the people “were all very poor--poorer, perhaps, than when he left them” (Moore 4). Through his discussions with the villagers, it is apparent that they have fantasized images of America, because all they talk about was “the wages a man could get in America, and the long hours of work,” (Moore 4). They “all agreed …show more content…
“On the eve of an emigrant’s departure [it] replicated the rites of a funeral, including poteen, dancing, and keening, reinforce[ing] the idea of leaving Ireland as a death-in-life” (Cullingford 60). Through the interactions between the characters, we, as readers, become aware of many of the emotions, images, and reasons associated with Irish emigration. Not only do we get to see the affects emigration has on the family, but also we become aware of the various reasons for emigration. For the parents, the father “struggled with vague and peculiar ideas that wandered about in [his mind, and] he could make nothing of all of his thoughts, but a lump always came up his throat,” (O’Flaherty 134) and the mother was “unable to think intelligibly about her two children going away” (O’Flaherty 139). Yet, for the children, it was about the potential for a better life, because the only thing people got out of the land was “poverty and hard work and potatoes and salt” (O’Flaherty 136). Different from the parents, the son “felt very strong and manly recounting what he was going to do when he got to Boston. He would earn great money, [… and] for that moment he forgot the ache in his heart that the though of leaving his father inspired in him” (O’Flaherty 136). The daughter, on the other hand, …show more content…
Once everyone leaves the party and the normal daily activities begin, the two children no longer had a place in their traditionally home life and routine. This shows that even though they are pursuing new opportunities and leaving the rural farm, life for their families and communities continue without them, and other members of their families and communities pick up the responsibilities and tasks that they previously completed. Even though there is a sense of exile from their home routine, both the children and family wanted to reminded of each other. When leaving the son “picked a piece of loose whitewash from the wall and put it in his pocket” (O’Flaherty 146) and the mother tried to “keep a living photography of them before her mind” (O’Flaherty 145). Through the sons picking of the piece of whitewash, it shows that he wanted to have a physical reminder of home when he is in America. Also it suggests the fear of going to America, because the piece of whitewash, even though small, can serve as a physical reminder of home and something to comfort the son if he feels homesick. The experience of children leaving their families was extremely common for Irish families, and to comfort them members of the community would tell them “there was nothing that time [would] not cure” (O’Flaherty 146). Even though the children were excited about emigrating, the thought of leaving home forever evoked