Counterparts james joyce pdf

May I ask you why you haven't made a copy of that contract between Bodley and Kirwan? I told you it must be ready by four o'clock. Shelley said, sir" "Mr. Shelley said, sir Kindly attend to what I say and not to what Mr. Shelley says, sir. You have always some excuse or another for shirking work. Let me tell you that if the contract is not copied before this evening I'll lay the matter before Mr.

Do you hear me now? Ay and another little matter! I might as well be talking to the wall as talking to you. Understand once for all that you get a half an hour for your lunch and not an hour and a half. How many courses do you want, I'd like to know Do you mind me now?

Alleyne bent his head again upon his pile of papers. A spasm of rage gripped his throat for a few moments and then passed, leaving after it a sharp sensation of thirst.

The man recognised the sensation and felt that he must have a good night's drinking. The middle of the month was passed and, if he could get the copy done in time, Mr.

Alleyne might give him an order on the cashier. He stood still, gazing fixedly at the head upon the pile of papers. Suddenly Mr. Alleyne began to upset all the papers, searching for something. Then, as if he had been unaware of the man's presence till that moment, he shot up his head again, saying: "Eh? Are you going to stand there all day? Upon my word, Farrington, you take things easy!

Go downstairs and do your work. Alleyne cry after him that if the contract was not copied by evening Mr. Crosbie would hear of the matter. He returned to his desk in the lower office and counted the sheets which remained to be copied. He took up his pen and dipped it in the ink but he continued to stare stupidly at the last words he had written: In no case shall the said Bernard Bodley be The evening was falling and in a few minutes they would be lighting the gas: then he could write.

He felt that he must slake the thirst in his throat. He stood up from his desk and, lifting the counter as before, passed out of the office. As he was passing out the chief clerk looked at him inquiringly. Shelley," said the man, pointing with his finger to indicate the objective of his journey.

The chief clerk glanced at the hat-rack, but, seeing the row complete, offered no remark. As soon as he was on the landing the man pulled a shepherd's plaid cap out of his pocket, put it on his head and ran quickly down the rickety stairs. From the street door he walked on furtively on the inner side of the path towards the corner and all at once dived into a doorway.

He was now safe in the dark snug of O'Neill's shop, and filling up the little window that looked into the bar with his inflamed face, the colour of dark wine or dark meat, he called out: "Here, Pat, give us a g. The man drank it at a gulp and asked for a caraway seed. He put his penny on the counter and, leaving the curate to grope for it in the gloom, retreated out of the snug as furtively as he had entered it.

Darkness, accompanied by a thick fog, was gaining upon the dusk of February and the lamps in Eustace Street had been lit. The man went up by the houses until he reached the door of the office, wondering whether he could finish his copy in time.

On the stairs a moist pungent odour of perfumes saluted his nose: evidently Miss Delacour had come while he was out in O'Neill's. He crammed his cap back again into his pocket and re-entered the office, assuming an air of absentmindedness. Alleyne has been calling for you," said the chief clerk severely. As the clients were both male the chief clerk allowed himself a laugh. Well, you better look sharp and get a copy of our correspondence in the Delacour case for Mr. The dark damp night was coming and he longed to spend it in the bars, drinking with his friends amid the glare of gas and the clatter of glasses.

He got out the Delacour correspondence and passed out of the office. He hoped Mr. Alleyne would not discover that the last two letters were missing. The moist pungent perfume lay all the way up to Mr. Miss Delacour was a middle-aged woman of Jewish appearance.

Alleyne was said to be sweet on her or on her money. She came to the office often and stayed a long time when she came. She was sitting beside his desk now in an aroma of perfumes, smoothing the handle of her umbrella and nodding the great black feather in her hat.

Alleyne had swivelled his chair round to face her and thrown his right foot jauntily upon his left knee. The man put the correspondence on the desk and bowed respectfully but neither Mr.

Alleyne nor Miss Delacour took any notice of his bow. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Counterparts by James Joyce. Counterparts by James Joyce. The story recounts an evening in the life of a man named Farrington, frequently referred to simply as "the man".

Alleyne berates him for not having finished an assignment. Instead of applying himself immediately to the task, the alcoholic Farrington slips out of the office for a quick beer. When Mr.

Alle The story recounts an evening in the life of a man named Farrington, frequently referred to simply as "the man". Alleyne yells at Farrington again, Farrington replies with an impertinent remark and has to apologize. After work, Farrington joins his friends at various pubs, but only after he pawns his watch-chain for drinking money. However, his revelries end in two humiliations: a perceived slight by an elegant young woman and defeat in an arm-wrestling contest.

Farrington goes home in a foul mood. After learning that his wife is out at the chapel, he beats one of his five children. The story ends as his little boy, Tom, pleads for mercy. Get A Copy. Published first published More Details Original Title. Other Editions 6.

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Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Start your review of Counterparts. Jul 23, Michael Sorbello rated it liked it Shelves: horror-books , all-book-reviews. A harsh lesson to be learned here. It makes you think about how making foolish and damaging choices in life can hurt the ones around you, even the ones you love most.

One bad thing can lead to another. Your actions have an impact on the people and the world around you. Jul 04, K. Anna Kraft rated it liked it. Also there is a sense that Farrington spends a lot of time, every day in public houses. In the story the abuse of alcohol represents a lack of self- control and feeling of self worth that lead to violence. Alleyne and Miss Delacour were standing outside xounterparts counter and all the clerks had turn round in anticipation of something.

He stood in a doorway opposite the office watching to see if the cashier would come out alone. His heart swelled with fury and, when he thought of the woman in the big hat who ciunterparts brushed against him and said Pardon!

If anything alcohol has control over him, rather than Farrington being able to control his alcohol intake. First there is the obvious writings by Farrington while he is in work. He went heavily upstairs until he came to the second landing, where a door bore a brass plate with the inscription Mr.

Facebook Twitter Email Print. There was a pause in the very breathing counterpsrts the clerks. Farrington stood a drink all round. His heart swelled with fury and, when he thought of the woman in the big hat who had brushed against him and said Pardon! Alleyne nor Miss Delacour took any notice of his bow. Each of his problems follows him wherever he goes. Instead of escaping, he deceived himself by deceiving his family.

There was a murmur of applause from the spectators. All accuracy disputes Articles with disputed statements from March All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February Articles with LibriVox links. He got out the Delacour correspondence and passed out of the office. The shrill voice cried:.

Alleyne gets angry at Farrington, yells at him, and ends up embarrassing him in front of a Miss Delacour, which makes Farrington feel even more miserable. The bar was full of men and loud with the noise of tongues and glasses. Of course he had to join in with the others. He watched her leave the room in the hope that she would look back at him, but he was disappointed.