The Pull of the Stars

While Julia and Dr. Lynn perform the autopsy, they talk about Ireland’s political situation. In 1918, Ireland is still under British rule. However, many people think that Ireland should become an independent country. Dr. Lynn, for example, was a member of the Irish Citizen Army and took part in an insurrection at City Hall. Hearing this, Julia tells Dr. Lynn, “But it was you terrorists who began the shooting in Dublin, and treacherously, in the middle of a world war!” (144). Julia disagrees with how violent the incident became, and she points out that she even had to treat many gunshot wound victims at the hospital. Dr. Lynn acknowledges the casualties—“almost five hundred killed that week, and thousands injured”—but adds that this was “mostly by British artillery” (143). Dr. Lynn also explains that she hoped Ireland would transition peacefully to a self-governing country but realized the British wouldn’t let that happen. Dr. Lynn says, “I realised that despite four decades of paying lip service to the principle of home rule, the British meant to keep fobbing us off. Only then, after much soul-searching, I assure you, did I become what you call a terrorist” (144).

Julia also tells Dr. Lynn that her brother fought for the British army in the war, to which Dr. Lynn responds, “So many Irishmen have sacrificed themselves in the cause of empire and capital” (143). Dr. Lynn thinks that the Kingdom of Great Britain does not treat Irish people well and that Ireland would be better off as an independent republic. Julia, on the other hand, disagrees with the violence of Irish rebels, especially because the country is already suffering from so much death and violence due to the war and the pandemic. At the hospital, much gossip surrounds Dr. Lynn’s controversial political views. Nevertheless, Julia, wanting to avoid an argument, decides, “I needed to get us off politics” (144) and changes the subject. This scene gives context to the political situation in Ireland at the time and raises interesting questions about when taking part in violence and disobedience to bring about political change is right.

Julia continues to think about her age and how unusual it is that she’s still unmarried. She turns 30 the next day, November 1, but isn’t sure she wants to get married or have children. Julia muses, “The real question was whether I was going to regret it if I never got married. But how could I possibly know for sure until it was too late? Which wasn’t reason enough to do it, to throw myself headlong at every half-viable prospect the way some women did” (154). The social norm for women in Ireland at the time is to marry young and begin having children. Julia often meets such women in the hospital’s Maternity ward. Still, she’s unsure if that’s what she wants for herself. Julia’s brother Tim surprises Julia with barmbrack, a bread baked with charms meant to make predictions for whoever finds them. As Julia eats, she unearths a tin ring, a sign that she’ll marry within the year, and thinks, “There was a time I’d have been thrilled by winning the tin ring, would’ve half believed its promise, even” (160). A moment later, Julia finds a thimble, which symbolizes a spinster. Julia jokes, “What do you make of that, then, Tim? Bride and spinster in the one year, according to the brack. Just goes to show it’s all a pack of nonsense” (160). Julia continues to be unsure about whether she wants to one day marry and what her future holds. This moment also foreshadows Julia’s brief romance with Bridie, who dies suddenly of influenza at the novel’s end.