Summary

“The Boarding House” by James Joyce starts with Mrs Mooney, who is the daughter of a butcher who married her father’s helper and later on separated from him because the man grew into an alcoholic and tried to hurt her. In the present, the woman owns a boarding house, which hosts clerks, occasional tourists, and artists.

Jack Mooney, the woman’s son also works as a clerk, and he enjoys the company of artistes. Polly Mooney, the woman’s daughter used to work as a typist in a factory but soon Mrs Mooney brought her back home because the girl’s father used to bother her at work. Polly takes care of cleaning and entertaining guests at the boarding house. As expected, Polly soon develops a romantic relationship with one of the tenants, Mr Doran. M...