As the story moves on, a pathetic tone is experienced by readers. However, this tone does not stand by itself. It is assisted by the large epiphany experienced by the speaker. This is when the speaker has realized that he has failed in his attempt to surprise and impress a girl. The pathetic tone which arises from the context is sympathetic towards the speaker because the author understands that this person has made a mistake. The main effect that the speaker’s epiphany has on the overall tone of the poem is that it allows for a pathetic tone to dominate readers thoughts. James Joyce longs for readers to feel the same way towards the speaker.
