Characters

The story “A Painful Case” by James Joyce includes several characters, but the most important ones are Mr Duffy and Mrs Sinico. Other characters mentioned are Mrs Sinico’s daughter and husband and all the people connected with Mrs Sinico’s death: the men from the railway company, an eye witness and the investigators of the case.

Mr James Duffy

James Duffy is the main character of the short story and the narrator’s focus. He is described both directly in terms of outer appearance and personality traits, as well as indirectly through his thoughts, attitude, and behaviour and even through the way he arranged his room.

Outer characterisation

James Duffy is a middle-aged bank cashier who lives a life based on order and routine. His physical traits are depicted in detail focusing on his face which mirrors his orderly and unemotional character:

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Inner characterisation

James Duffy’s personality traits are initially outlined directly by the narrator who depicts him as frightened of “anything which betokened physical or mental disorder” and as having “neither companions nor friends, church nor creed”.

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Mrs Emily Sinico

Emily Sinico is the second important character in the short story. She is the woman with whom Mr Duffy forms an attachment and it is her presence in his life and her death that eventually make him realise his loneliness. She is depicted by the third-person narrator using Mr Duffy’s point of view, but her traits also surface through her actions and the perspective of other characters.

Outer characterisation

Emily Sinico is a middle-aged married woman who is still attractive. Her common sense and physical looks are what attract Mr Duffy in the first place:

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Inner characterisation

Emily Sinico’s personality traits are first depicted from the point of view of Mr Duffy. The man regards her as an intelligent being and a companion; as a reliable person he can confide in:

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