(Un)Employment
In 1904 Dublin employment numbers were devastatingly low leaving the working class in a serious state of crisis as many people had no alternative means of making money. Pauperism, the concept of not having a job or owning any property was a serious problem in early 20th century Dublin as 4.5 million people claimed pauper status in the year 1906 (O’Brien 1982, 162). Unemployment numbers increased up until the year 1912 and the level of poverty became widespread throughout Ireland. With such numbers it is no doubt that the character Maggie saw the opportunity to leave Ireland as a blessing, even if it was without Frank, there was the drive to find employment elsewhere. These high unemployment numbers put pressure on corporations to provide jobs. Many programs were instilled, but only offered short term employment opportunities (approximately seven days) cleaning up the city, and removing filth. These jobs were short term because companies were trying to distribute employment to as many people as possible (O’Brien 1982, 167). In Act One, Scene Five Dublin by Lamplight illustrates two “dung dodgers” shoveling manure and waste from the gutters of the alley-ways. This reference is an accurate representation of short term employment positions popular during the early 1900s. -Michelle Kelly
In terms of employment for the upper class, many of the wealthy people within Dublin held positions within the professional field such as non-university teachers, engineers, chemists, auctioneers and accountants. The even wealthier held positions as university professionals, medical doctors, economists and those who worked in the legal profession. (Cohan, 1972) Eva is the clearest representative of the upper class within Dublin by Lamplight. Although she does not have a professional job, she is probably wealthy due to familial inheritance which gives her the authority to make many production decisions for the play The Wooing of Emer.
Within the middle class, employment for the members of this class could be termed “labour aristocracy”. These individuals had a greater social standing because of their labour professionalism and because they managed the workers of the working class. (Reid, 1980) Within Dublin by Lamplight, Nobbs is an example of a character that falls into the middle class. Nobbs runs and manages the hotel in which Maggie works. He controls her wages and whether she works or not. This particular job provides him with an authoritative position within the play.
- Sacha Brown
Wages
The average income of a working class individual within Dublin in the late 19th century was less than 20 shillings a week. (Holland, 1897) This earning put into perspective demonstrates just how wealthy Eva is within the play. Eva initially offers to give Willy 10 pounds in order to pay off the cost of the theatre. The 10 pounds, which is pocket money for Eva, in comparison with the 20 shilling per week for a working class family, is a shockingly large gap between the incomes of a working class and upper class person.
-Sacha Brown