The Dark Twist of Routine: Exploring Danger in “An Encounter” by James Joyce
To fully appreciate the nuances and analysis presented in this essay, readers are encouraged to first read James Joyce’s short story, “An Encounter” part of the short-story collection “Dubliners”. Engaging with the text beforehand will enhance your understanding of the themes and subtleties explored in the essay, offering a richer and more informed reading experience. The story is available at the following link: https://www.owleyes.org/text/dubliners/read/an-encounter#root-74337-1-1
James Joyce’s short story “An Encounter” depicts the protagonist’s experience with a strange old man during a day out. The amount of time in which the stranger and the main character interact is considerable and their conversation evolves from casual to rather odd and unsettling. Their encounter serves as a focal point in the story, which is evident from the title of the piece. Most notably, the man’s opinions and beliefs are paired with the overall theme of the text and create a contrast with the rather cheerful depiction of Dublin, which reflects on the protagonist by the end of the story. This close reading analysis aims to answer the following research question: How does the old man’s interference influence the ‘adventurous’ day off the protagonist has in Dublin?
Firstly, it has to be mentioned that the narrator in “An Encounter” can be defined both as homodiegetic and intradiegetic narrator – an approach which contributes to the overall framing of the events within the story. A homodiegetic narrator is a character within the story who tells the narrative from their own perspective, while an intradiegetic narrator is one who exists within the story’s world and participates in the events they describe. It is clearly shown that the protagonist is a young boy who attends school regularly: “Every evening after school” and who tries to escape the boring routine of everyday life through novels set in the Wild West:
The adventures related in the literature of the Wild West were remote from my nature but, at least, they opened doors of escape.
The boy finds escapism in the imaginary situations which he constructs with his friends. Moreover, he is described as a typical child, which can be understood in the scene where a teacher in school finds out that one of the protagonist’s friends reads The Apache Chief during class and expresses strict disapproval of the book. The main character states that this rebuke “awakened one of my consciences” – a reaction typical for a child who, when scolded, feels guilt without knowing why. Nevertheless, children’s opinions change quickly and this is confirmed by the following sentence:
But when the restraining influence of school was at a distance I began to hunger again for wild sensations, for the escape which those chronicles of disorder alone seemed to offer me.
The frequent use of the word ‘escape’ suggests that the protagonist strives for adventures and exciting life. After he and his friends miss a school day to explore Dublin, these adventurous situations are presented through an over-exaggerated child’s perspective. The boy and his friend, Mahony, are intrigued by every part of Dublin – the Pigeon House, the working cranes, the quays, the Norwegian sailors. Overall, the protagonist’s adventure day in Dublin begins with the exact thrill he wished to experience. However, the end of the day delivers a rather dark contrast to the whole story and emphasizes on the main message of the text.
The appearance of the old man is sudden and unexpected; however, he is not initially represented as unpleasant. His thoughts immediately begin dwelling on his past, depicting the nostalgic nature of his character – “[…] he would give anything to be young again”, “While he expressed these sentiments […]”. The stranger’s states that some of Lord Lytton’s works are not appropriate for young boys. Lytton not only wrote about eroticism and violence, but was a figure surrounded by sex scandals. Mentioning Lytton suggests that the stranger might love to discuss inappropriate stories with the young boys before him. After the old man mentions that
Every boy […] has a little sweetheart
the protagonist cannot help but notice that the old man shivers and his intonation reveals some kind of fear or chill. The boy feels that something is wrong with the man in front of him; however, his innocence does not allow him to process the reasons behind this intuition. The stranger’s fear might be his elderly sense of wariness when talking about young girls. Throughout the rest of the encounter, the old man forgets this sense and his inner urge for restraint gradually fades. Every time his nostalgia for the past - specifically for the young ‘sweethearts’ he had - circles “round and round in the same orbit”, he forgets any precautions and dives into his twisted desires. After the monologue is over, he walks away and Mahony draws attention to the stranger, describing him as a “queer old josser”. This description is influenced by the unsettling behavior of the old man after he leaves, which includes actions that disturb Mahony and contribute to his negative assessment of the stranger. It is peculiar to be noted that the protagonist does not check if Mahony is right or wrong, therefore hinting at the feeling of embarrassment which the boy experiences. After suggesting the fake names he and Mahony should take, it becomes clear that the main character is afraid and uncomfortable. However, his passiveness remains until the end of the story. The attitude of the old man changes completely upon his return: “he seemed to have forgotten his recent liberalism”. Mahony leaves the conversation – a method used to isolate the two characters and create even more pressure in the situation. The indirect discourse through which the stranger’s monologue is described leads the reader to experiencing something similar to the boy’s confusion and emphasizes the shock he goes through. The repetitive lexicon of punishment he uses: “slap”, “chastise”, whipped” builds a peculiar unsettling parallel with the Wild West thematic in the beginning of the story. However, this time the danger is real and the main character does not enjoy the thrill of it.
“An Encounter” suggests that an escapism from the boring routine can be exciting. However, it can also be disturbing. The discomforting encounter plays a significant role in the protagonist’s thrilling day – the young boy realizes that real life adventures can be dangerous. Moreover, the monotonous figure of the old man embodies routine itself and reveals that repetition can persist even when one has new, strange experiences.
Appendix (for additional close reading)
The Pigeon House is rich in symbolism within the text. Set one week before the Holy Spirit celebration (Pentecost), the pigeon traditionally represents the Holy Spirit. However, instead of having an encounter with something pure and innocent, the boys are approached by a figure with the exact opposite characteristics, contrasting with the expected symbolism.
When the protagonist meets the Norwegian sailors at the quays he examines them to check if they have green eyes, but his hopes are refuted. However, later when he looks the old man directly into his eyes he cannot help, but notice that his eyes are “bottle-green”. This detail contributes to the creepy atmosphere and emphasizes the dark twist in the protagonist’s day. Considering that green is also the national color of Ireland, the old man might symbolize the more sinister aspects of Irish society.
The perverted nature of the stranger is evident from his initial actions. At first he seems to intend to pass by the protagonist and Mahony, but upon realizing that they are schoolboys, he decides to approach them. This shift highlights his predatory nature and establishes a sense of foreboding.
The portrayal of the main character is that of a timid boy who fears being perceived as ashamed or inferior in the eyes of the others. He participates in the Wild West games with the other children to avoid being seen as a bookworm. Later, he pretends to have read the works mentioned by the old man to avoid appearing uncultured or uneducated. This behavior reflects his anxiety about social acceptance and his internal struggle with identity.
The ambiguity in Joe Dillon’s character is illustrated by his chaotic behavior and interest in priesthood. This duality is evident when comparing his immaturity with his fascination for the strictness of the Catholic Church. This contrast highlights and adds complexity to his character.
The appearance of the stranger is foreshadowed by the setting of the sun. When the atmosphere of the story is cheerful and positive during the day, the onset of darkness signals the approach of danger. This shifts in the environment mirrors the transition from adventure to menace.
There is an interesting resemblance between the protagonist and the stranger in their shared tendency to be bookish. Both exhibit criticism toward Mahony’s rough personality, which underscores their common traits and their differing views on social behavior.
Violence is initially treated as a humorous topic among the boys when they imagine how Leo Dillon’s father will beat him. However, when the old man expresses excitement about beating young boys, the protagonist’s perception of violence shifts, and it is no longer seen as something to laugh at. This change highlights the protagonist’s growing awareness of real-life dangers and the stark contrast between childish fantasy and harsh reality.
Works Cited
Joyce, James. “An Encounter” Dubliners, Garland Publishing, 1993, pp. 11-19.
Illustration by Aleksandra Waliszewska
