The Unconscious Struggle for Human Existence

A detailed Summary of The Unconscious Struggle for Human Existence

The Unconscious Struggle for Human Existence

According to philosopher Karl Marx, humans are "slaves to historical necessity and their thought and thinking are rigidly determined by the mode of production" (Beer xxii). This view of historical materialism asserts that the culture, political, and government systems of a given people derive from the material conditions of their existence. Thus, "life is not determined by consciousness, but consciousness by life"(Reader 155). In the short story, "The Boarding House", James Joyce uses Mrs. Mooney to illustrate how the "blind forces" of economic materialism determine our existence and causally result in our living by a false consciousness.

The prevailing economic condition in Dublin, Ireland determines Mrs. Mooney's disposition in running her boarding house. Because of the destructive potato famine, a good portion of the city's men have fled in search of work elsewhere, leaving behind a surplus of women desperately searching for companions. Due to the lack of men, Mrs. Mooney is under more pressure to get her young, daughter Polly married and eliminate the possibility of her ending up an old maid. Reflecting the present economic ideology, Mrs. Mooney understands that her ulti

The economic condition also controls Mrs. Moooney's optimistic views in handling Mr. Doran. Furthering his perfect attributes for being a husband, Mooney "knew he had a good screw for one thing and she suspected he had a bit of stuff put by" (Joyce 76). Mrs. Mooney realizes that publicity of Duran's action for Mr. Doran would mean the risk of him losing his job and the taint of his well established, pious character. Marx can explain why Doran agrees more with reparation due to his promising, economic position. In this time of economic repression, Mr. Doran knows he can not quit one job and easily find another. This is further evidence of the power of materialism that governs human lives. Doran values his monetary rank so that he sacrifices every subjective influence. "A serious, not rakish young man", Mr. Doran deeply respects his job as a Catholic wine merchant and fears what wrath his employer Mr. Leonard would leash upon him if his action were to go public. Reflecting Marxian ideology, "a man's consciousness changes with every change in the conditions of his material existence, in his social relations and in his social life" (Beer 30). Mr. Doran claims that in his youth he had been radical in his thinking, and had "sown his wild oats" (Joyce 76). But now, since his mode of production shifted from student to religious merchant, his ideals and idiosyncracies had shifted as well. He now was respected and stoutly pious. He is tormented by the idea that one mistake could ruin all of the diligence and hard work put into establishing his character. Both Mrs. Mooney and Mr. Doran know that if Doran runs away from this problem, he is sure to lose "his sit", whereas if he agrees to the reparation "all might be well" (76).

Mrs. Mooney's position as owner of the house is an asset in her quest for Polly's husband, in that it puts Polly in the path of a plethora of well-to-do men. Joyce illustrates the control of human materialism by illustrating Mrs. Mooney's determination to see Polly betrothed to a man with sound assets. Mrs. Mooney latches on to Mr. Doran when she discovers this quality in him. Mrs. Mooney governs her house "cunningly and firmly", constantly weeding out the candidates who did not "mean business" with Polly, and searching for the one who did. Mrs. Mooney dangles Polly like bait in front of the men, scoping out the one with promising intentions. Her behavior echoes Marxian ideology, in that "it is not the consciousness of one that determines his existence, but rather it is his social existence that determines his consciousness" (Beer ix) Mrs. Mooney's imposing position and behavior are derived from her present position in the economy.

Another economic condition that controls Mrs. Mooney's inclinations is her position as a "determined woman" (71). Mrs. Mooney has ideas that she wishes to implement and will eliminate every obstacle that averts her purpose. In order to get Polly "off of her hands", she has to be manipulative in her society (76). Because society strongly disagrees with women being butchers, or having any means to a decent income for the matter, Mrs. Mooney is forced to take her money and upper hand position and invest in her own business. Joyce's juxtaposition of Mr. Mooney, the "shabby stooped little drunkard", to Mrs. Mooney, "the imposing, Madam", further elucidates Mrs. Mooney's determination to provide Polly with a husband and desire to order her world. Echoing the Marxist creed, the ideology of Mrs. Mooney's time is simply "the will of class made into a law for all, a will whose essential character and direction are determined by the economic conditions of existence of one's class" (Beer 27). Women are not allowed to have good positions with high incomes. Their ultimate desire to acquire a husband along with their will to please him reflects their inferior economic position. Furthermore, "their conditions of existence are predestined, and hence have their pos

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Approximate Word count = 2828
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English