The Ballad of Pierce O'Reilly (Humpty Dumpty)

The Ballad of Persse O'Reilly - a poem from the book Finnegans Wake written by James Joyce.

Explanatory notes on verses 5 and 6 of the poem

Verse 5: "We had chaw chaw chops...":

This verse describes the negative qualities and business practices of the figure being satirized (HCE, the "soffsoaping salesman"). It paints a picture of cheap goods and a disreputable character.

• "We had chaw chaw chops, chairs, chewing gum, the chicken-pox and china chambers":
• Alliteration and Accumulation: The repeated 'ch' sound and the long list create a sense of overwhelming, somewhat unpleasant abundance.
• "chaw chaw chops": Could imply low-quality meat chops, perhaps food of questionable origin, or even the sound of chewing. "Chops" can also refer to jaws or the mouth, linking to "chewing gum."
• "chairs": A basic furniture item, perhaps implying a cheap establishment.


• "chewing gum": A trivial, mass-produced item, suggesting tackiness or cheapness.


• "the chicken-pox": This is a direct physical affliction, bringing in themes of disease, contagion, and perhaps the general "illness" or moral decay associated with the character. It's a striking and unexpected item in a list of goods.


• "china chambers": Euphemism for chamber pots (bedside urinals). This strongly reinforces the image of a low-grade, unsanitary, and perhaps disreputable establishment (like a boarding house or pub with minimal facilities), further undermining the "salesman's" image.

• "All provided by this soffsoaping salesman.":
• "soffsoaping salesman": A brilliant Joycean portmanteau.
• "Soft-soaping": To flatter or mollify someone, often insincerely, to achieve a goal. This characterizes him as manipulative and glib.
• "Sop": To soak or dip. Could hint at something wet, perhaps even something sordid or greasy.
• The sound could also evoke "soft-sleeping," hinting at his comfortable but ill-gotten gains.
• It directly labels him as a salesman, confirming his profession and linking to the "bucketshop store."

• "Small wonder He'd Cheat E'erawan the local lads nicknamed him.":
• "He'd Cheat E'erawan": This is a fantastic pun, suggesting "He'd cheat every one." It's presented as his actual nickname, emphasizing his widespread reputation for dishonesty. This is another name for HCE (Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker).
• "E'erawan": A phonetical rendering of "everyone," typical of Joyce's play with sound and meaning. This is Irish dialect as well for "any one":

• "When Chimpden first took the floor / With his bucketshop store / Down Bargainweg, Lower.":

• "Chimpden": This is a clear reference to HCE (Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker), confirming that the "salesman" is indeed this central figure. "Chimpden" itself suggests "chimp" or monkey, perhaps implying a primal, unevolved, or even deceitful nature.
• "took the floor": Idiom meaning to start speaking or to take charge of a situation. Here, it signifies the beginning of his business venture.
• "bucketshop store": A "bucket shop" is a derogatory term for a disreputable business, especially one involved in speculative trading, often with little capital and engaging in dishonest practices. It perfectly encapsulates HCE's dodgy dealings.
• "Bargainweg, Lower.":

• "Bargainweg": A street name that immediately conjures "Bargain Way" or "Bargain Road," reinforcing he idea of cheap goods and possibly dubious deals.
• "weg": The German word for "way" or "road."
• "Lower": Suggests a less reputable part of town, adding to the dingy atmosphere."

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Verse 6: "So snug he was in his hotel premises sumptuous...":

This verse details the downfall of the "salesman" (HCE), contrasting his former comfort with the impending consequences of his actions, hinting at legal and financial ruin.

• "So snug he was in his hotel premises sumptuous":
• "snug": Implies comfort, warmth, and complacency. He was feeling secure and well-settled.
• "hotel premises sumptuous": This is ironic given the "china chambers" and "bucketshop store" from the previous verse. It suggests a facade of luxury or perhaps his own inflated perception of his success, despite the low quality of his offerings. It could also refer to his pub, "The Mullingar House," which is often depicted as his domain."

• "But soon we'll bonfire all his trash, tricks and trumpery":
• "bonfire": A public burning, symbolizing destruction, repudiation, and purification. It's a powerful image of collective rejection.
• "trash, tricks and trumpery": A list of his misdeeds and worthless possessions.

• "Trash": Rubbish, worthless things.
• "Tricks": Deceptive or cunning actions.
• "Trumpery": Showy but worthless articles; something of little value or importance; also, deceit or fraud. This word perfectly encapsulates his deceptive trade.

• "And 'tis short till sheriff Clancy'll be winding up his unlimited company":
• "short till sheriff Clancy'll be winding up": Implies that the legal reckoning is imminent. "Short till" means "it won't be long until."
• "sheriff Clancy": Represents the law and authority, the force of justice. "Clancy" is a common Irish surname, making it specific to the Dublin setting.:
• "winding up his unlimited company": This is a legal term for liquidating a company, especially one with unlimited liability, meaning the owners are personally responsible for the company's debts. This strongly signifies financial ruin and legal dissolution. The "unlimited company" highlights the extent of his personal exposure and the scale of his impending failure.

• "With the bailiff's bom at the door,":

• "bailiff's bom": A "bailiff" is an officer of the law who carries out arrests and serves legal papers, particularly those relating to debt collection or eviction. "Bom" is an onomatopoeic sound, like a heavy knock or bang on the door, signaling the arrival of the bailiff and the finality of the legal action. It suggests an insistent, unavoidable demand for payment or eviction.

• "Bimbam at the door.":

• "Bimbam": Another onomatopoeia, reinforcing the knocking sound, but also evoking the sound of church bells (like "ding-dong"). This adds a layer of solemnity or even a death knell to the proceedings, perhaps suggesting the end of an era or a final judgment. It's also childlike babbling, echoing "Balbaccio, balbuccio!" from earlier, again bringing in the themes of language breakdown and the cyclical nature of events in Finnegans Wake.

• "Then he'll bum no more.":

• "bum": This word carries multiple meanings, adding to the Joycean density:

• To "bum around" means to loaf or live idly, often by begging. This suggests his days of freeloading or easy living are over.
• To "bum" can also mean to make a loud, continuous, low sound (like a buzzing). This could refer to his idle chatter or the continuous hum of his past activities.
• More crudely, it can refer to his posterior, connecting to the idea of a fall or being thrown out, or even his general disrepute.
• It signifies the end of his comfortable, dishonest existence.

Go to the poem itself: The Ballad of Pierce O'Reilly (Humpty Dumpty) >>

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