What do you think Mr. Doran’s final decision is at the end of the story? What plot points and narrative or character details hint at this decision? How do these elements inform the story’s key themes and your interpretation of its conclusion?

Joyce ends the story before Polly speaks with Mr. Doran. What is the significance of this conclusion? What effect does it on the story, and why?

Why does Joyce choose to include this particular story in his larger work, Dubliners? What does this add to the book, and why is it important to represent Dublin as Joyce saw it?