Lily was employed as the caretaker’s daughter to serve Miss Kate and Miss Julia to any accord. To be in the position of a servant is an honor, especially to a significant member of society. To demonstrate the ability of dignity, there must be confinement of liberation and loyalty to one’s employer. While Miss Kate and Miss Julia had the luxury of gossip and hysterics, the staff assuredly did not. Concerning many a distinguished house, the service entails the capability of alertness and ability. The modest diamond-bone sirloins, three-shilling tea, and the best-bottled stout that Lily prepared for her three mistresses certify class and nobility, but only for regular occasions. The annual Christmas dinner party hosted at the Morkan house was always a grand affair, and those in service ascertain all preparations are in order. Mr. Conroy’s delayed arrival time ceaselessly burdened Miss Julia and Miss Kate, which justifiably excused their agitated demeanor. It had been years since Kate and Julia had left the house in Stoney Batter thereafter their brother Pat’s passing, and taken Mary Jane to live with them on Usher’s Island. Mary Jane is their only niece and ascended to being a respected woman of the household equipped with extraordinary musical ability, of course, whom Lily would also have to answer to. It must be something lingering in the air, what could possibly be the cause for Gabriel’s absence? This nature is to be expected of Freddy Malins who is possibly preparing his intoxicated state prior to arrival at the property. Attendance to Miss Morkan’s annual dance is a dull, repetitive endeavor for Mr. Gabriel Conroy. Upon Mr. and Mrs. Conroy’s arrival and entrance into the house, Lily made it clear to Gabriel that his presence had been anticipated for some time. Beaming ear to ear Mr. Conroy replied eagerly, it was not his quality to arrive after the estimated expectance time, but in fact because of the extended time it takes for Mrs. Conroy to appear presentable for such an event. Succeeding Lily’s announcement of the arrival of Mrs. Conroy below the stairs, the hidden, unsteadied figures from above met Mrs. Conroy in an embrace. It was of utmost importance to ensure Gabriel’s arrival before sweeping Mrs. Conroy up the steps. Thereafter, Lily guided Mr. Conroy into the pantry to remove his outdoor garments. To attempt to break the silence, Gabriel thought to engage in what the unrefined Americans defer to as “small talk”. Asking Lily if she still went to school would determine the maturity of her decision and course of life. Lily replied assuredly that she would not be returning to school for many years, which introduced the possibility of marriage. How lovely for this young girl, she has my warmest congratulations! Alas, the reaction to this question was not to be expected. She spoke with great bitterness against men and love entirely. Overwhelmed by generosity, Gabriel offered a coin to Lily to kindly repay his ill-spoken moment. As a dignified servant, the right thing would be to allow Mr. Conroy to do as he pleases, and avoid upsetting him. Fortunately, Lily accepted the coin from Mr. Conroy and could free him from any guilt weighing on his chest. Unfortunately, Lily could not maintain her composure and demonstrated weakness by being spiteful to Mr. Conroy. Gabriel prepares a speech every year and this year was no different. Being a graduate of Royal University, he had the education to transcend all the guests’ intelligence. Under no circumstances could Gabriel relate to any of the guests or servants, they would not be able to comprehend his thinking or intellect.  The recognition of Robert Browning is evidence of Gabriel’s superiority,  I admire his transition from Irish to English support, it is far more dignified. It is in this moment where an awareness of social divisions is glaringly obvious. Mr. Conroy though he failed Lily, and will make a fool of himself by quoting poetry that is refined and cultured. Then, he saw his wife and reminded of his responsibility as her husband, the rules that must be made and followed, or else there would simply be chaos! Whilst Greta criticized Gabriel’s galoshes which were an invention of the future,  Freddy Malins posed a risk to the entire event. Once again, the responsibility lies on Gabriel’s broad shoulders, would any task be accomplished without his capability? 

Mr. Browne and Miss Furlong, Miss Daly, and Miss Power join for refreshment as Miss Kate had a direct course to exit. The dances emerge, and the quadrilles demand to be attended to. The partners get assigned, excitement is buzzing,  and Gabriel still has the responsibility of supervising Freddy.  Mary Jane captured all but Gabriel and my attention with her Academy piece. The  meladoy was one I would not appriciate. Suddenly, Mr. Conway found himself paired with a prideful Irish woman. She began to bother him with what his business was with The Daily Express, while Gabriel felt his opinions should not be shouted about. West Briton is the term of an Irish person who supports English control, which truly is the most educated decision an Irish person could make. Gabriel was forced to defend his position as a writer and consequently deflect his West Briton identity. Miss Ivors allowed Mr. Conroy to honestly reflect on his relationship with his wife because of the vastly different social classes. Gretta being from Connacht is not something Gabriel associates with because he would rather go to France or Belgium to escape the Irish society and life of Dublin. Ultimately Gabriel makes his position known as he spoke, ‘if it comes to that, you know, Irish is not my language.’ This statement refers to Miss Ivors being a firm believer in the Irish homeland being the only land needed to inhabit, other places would not be worth visiting. (This unfortunately excludes Darlington Hall of course) West Briton rings an alarming bell within Gabriel’s conscience, which unexpectedly causes an internal conflict of his moral standards. Afterward, Greta does not understand what Gabriel is experiencing, so Gabriel must act cold to Greta, to survive. The cold outside the home entices Gabriel, the Wellington Monument would be all the more pleasant than battling an additional Irish nationalist. As the night continues, Gabriel continues to fight and he wins a small battle when Miss Ivors decides to leave the party.

Finally, the momentous event had arrived. The carving of the goose. Gabriel proudly took his seat at the head of the table and exchanged plates with the guests. The time for speech was present. So it began. Mr. Conroy discussed a new generation, which is mainly self-reflective, and discussed that the present is the time for new ideas and certain qualities of humanity that belonged to the older day. Now the time is for thinking and development. The days are too short to give up on what you fully believe in. The union of Irish culture surrounding Gabriel made him want to leave, they do not truly understand his ideology. For the Three Graces of the Dublin musical world, Gabriel continues his revolutionary speech, but  Aunt Julia is not able to comprehend. All the guests drink for the health and prosperity of the Three Graces, and especially for themselves as well. After an abundance of singing and laughter, Gabriel found himself gazing at a woman whose feminine characteristics enticed him, revealing him to be his wife. She was quite distracted and her attention to the music left her frozen on the staircase. Bartell D’arcy, the musician who could not sing the entire night left the remaining inhabitants in shock. The Lass of Augbrin awoke Greta, and Gabriel saw a beauty in her that he sought to possess. The fleeting night was calling, and  Mr. D’Arcy, Miss O’Callaghan, Gabriel, and Greta departed. Gabriel desired Greta to meet his eyes and be obnoxiously affectionate. He longed to be alone with her, everything was aligned in Gabriel’s mind during the walk to the cab. Could one call it feelings of love? The cab trekked across the O’Connell Bridge and Gabriel distinguished a white man on the statue. Gabriel was delighted to pay the driver and cordially wished them a prosperous New Year. Mr. Conway felt immensely proud of his wife and reminded her of her touch and memories. Logically I think, love is a construct to avoid employment, and there must be control for success. Gabriel was prepared for nobility once again, he shot the lock to their room and gazed down the street to keep his impulses in check. A complication arose, and his emotions were shielded due to an inopportune moment. Gabriel began speaking go Malins, and displaying true generosity in front of the woman he loves, why is she not responding correspondingly to him?  Then, she kissed him, and he put his hands on her hair. Strangely, the complication seemed to answer itself, he had to wait for her to present herself to him. Gretta is silent with the thundering thoughts quarreling in her mind.  Gabriel now thought he understood her, Gretta erupted in a combative response. The Lass of Augbrim, a traditional Irish song revealed a secret Gretta hid. Gretta was provoked to remember her passionate, tragic true love. The grave of Micahel Furey. As Gabriel told me the tale, it was not love Gretta was seeking from Gabriel, Gretta had been in love already. Michael Furey and Gretta were involved in their earlier years, and he faced a death in the gasworks at the age of seventeen. Michael sacrificed his health to see Gretta again, and paid the price for her. Time is fleeting and death never ceases in any circumstance. Gabriel’s indecisive identity and relations with Greta cost him happiness and his life. I feel Mrs. Benn could have been my life, but at what cost? I would not know life without servitude and sacrifice for my employers.  As a foreigner to Ireland, Dublin is vastly different from life at Darlington Hall. I believe, a quality that will mark out the English landscape to any objective observer as the most deeply satisfying in the world, and this quality is probably best summed up by the term ‘greatness.’ I would say that it is the very lack of obvious drama or spectacle that sets the beauty of our land apart. What is pertinent is the calmness of that beauty, its sense of restraint.