Characters in Dubliners

Major Characters

Charles Stewart Parnell- Irish nationalist who had huge support of Ireland, but lost it and destroyed the Irish nationalist cause when he had an adulterous affair. The people in the committee room wear green ivy in his honor but actually have little respect for his beliefs and betray his visions much like Jack’s son betrays Jack.

Mr. Hynes-tall slender man with light brown moustache, first thing he does is to ask if they’ve been paid yet. He is thought to be a spy but actually is more nationalist than the other people in there and delivers the poem The Death of Parnell where he moans how Parnell was betrayed by the Irish people and church, afterwards everyone in the committee room is left somewhat embarrassed of how they’ve betrayed Parnell’s vision.

Mr. Henchy-old man who suspects Mr. Hynes is a spy for Colgan, showing the lack of trust and backstabbing that occurs in the committee room on a day that supposedly is meant to commemorate the Irish Nationalist Parnell. He even seems to support Edwards believing that the money the English King will bring is good for Dublin, and ignores Edwards’ womanizing while Parnell’s downfall was brought because of an affair, all he does is complain and dream of becoming mayor and accepting bribes.

Jack-Has an old man’s face, very bony and hairy, with blue eyes; has a son who is drunk on liquor. He is one of the many men in the committee room who does nothing but is supposed to be part of Tierney’s campaign. His son is a disappointment to him just like the people in the novel disappoint Parnell’s vision.

Richard J. Tierney-Nationalist party running for royal exchange ward, a pub owner and called Tricky Dicky Tierney, he gets his support through promise of money and free bear. He is supposed to be Nationalist but seems Conservative enough to even be supported by Crofton a former Conservative canvasser and probably will welcome the English King while his opponent would not. His supporters lack true dedication and do little work throughout the story.

Mr O’Conner- a grey-haired young man with many pimples, was hired by Mr. Tierney to canvass the ward, but instead sits lazily in the committee room; he is more concerned about the money he is receiving than actual campaigning, he is the first one to be seen displaying the ivy leaf on his lapel.

Crofton- fat man supporter of the conservative candidate but after the conservative candidate withdraws he supports Mr. Tierney, ironically he does more work than the so called staunch party members.

Minor Characters

Larry Hynes-Joe Hynes’ father whom the people in the committee room trust but do not trust his son Joe.

Colgan-Opposition candidate to Tierney, he is a working class man who probably wouldn’t support King Edward coming to Ireland.

Major Sirr- a Irish major who put down his own people because he was paid by the British, many of the people in the committee room while criticizing him are no better than him.

Father Keon-yellowish face, with two rosy cheeks and blue eyes, a black sheep among priests he does not belong to any specific organization.

Mr. Fanning-the sub-sheriff who Mr. Tierney mentions that he must ask before paying his campaign staff

Boy-seventeen years old who delivers the beer and is treated with a sip by the men in the committee room, the people in the committee room believe that drinking like that is just the tip to becoming a drunkard.