Just one of many short stories compiled in James Joyce's Dubliners, 'After the Race' is an effective portrait of the shame and unhappiness that resulted from Jimmy Doyle's efforts to be accepted by a group of rich men. His constant desire to present himself as an aristocrat, who constantly finds himself in the company of elitist individuals, undermines his ability to reason and make sound judgments. This weakness is mainly illustrated by his reckless gambling and drunken speech. Jimmy's obsession with improving his social status leads to his demise as he ultimately finds himself in a state of desolation and poverty. The infidelity of Jimmy's so-called friends further accentuates the malevolence of greed, as the French seem to accept Jimmy simply because of his investment in the automobile establishment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"? Get the original essay The success of Jimmy's father fosters Jimmy's desire to improve his own social status as much as it highlights naivety Jimmy's inherent nature. Sharing his father's principles, Jimmy comes to believe that being in the company of well-to-do French people will be very advantageous and, to some extent, stimulating. Although these men are only “acquaintances” (43) of Jimmy, he seems to find “great pleasure in the society of one who has seen so much of the world and who was reputed to own some of the greatest hotels in France” (43). . Jimmy's criteria for choosing his mates are strictly based on his socio-economic position, effectively hinting at his superficial character. Additionally, Jimmy does not focus his energies on important issues such as education because he "did not study very seriously and took bad classes" (43) but instead focuses on presenting a seemingly noble to the general public. Jimmy's concerns seem to be primarily centered around the people he is seen with in public, further elucidating his insecurities and self-doubt. The French do not show real sympathy towards Jimmy but rather a strong feeling of apathy towards him. Jimmy is "too excited to be really happy" in the blue car because, unsurprisingly, he doesn't feel welcome. As an uninvited guest, Jimmy rides in the blue car and often has to “strain to catch the quick phrase” (44) to hear the “light words” (44) of the French. Jimmy's membership in the exclusive group is actually disingenuous, and the men simply tolerate Jimmy because he has made a significant investment in Ségouin's automobile establishment. Furthermore, Jimmy's choice to give a speech, although well received by his companions, underlines his stupidity and his disillusionment. Jimmy "must have [delivered] a good speech" (47-48), but in fact he doesn't even remember the subject he spoke on because he is so miserably drunk. Jimmy's shameful state further contributes to his portrayal as a stupid, drunken individual trying to impress his "audience" and gain approval. Jimmy eventually realizes the futility of his situation but simply ignores it. Having drunk a substantial amount, Jimmy is unable to reasonably engage in a game of cards. However, he refuses to let his condition stop him from playing and, ultimately, "he knew he would regret the next day but now he was happy with the rest" (48). Although Jimmy has lost a large sum of money, he attempts to cover up the situation and ignore it, essentially denying the inevitability of shame in his eternal quest for wealth and acceptance. The inherent irony of the situation, however, occurs when Jimmy loses all his money. In the hope of a “stupor..