A Memory of the Players in a Mirror at Midnight by James Joyce. Short summary

5 seconds

An Irish writer declares that unnamed actors talk about love. He turns to the reader and asks him to remove the smirk from his bristling mouth. In addition, the author wants him to take away the trepidation and shame.

1 minute

Joyce writes about artists, whose names are unknown, speculating on the subject of lovemaking.

The Irish writer turns to the reader and asks him to stop smirking. He also wants to see him tame his own shame and trepidation emanating from itching flesh. The author wants them to pass away.

According to Joyce, the musty songs created on a secret basis have the same smell as a cat’s mouth.

The Irish writer tells the reader to pay attention to the gray hair. He adds that one can look at the sharp bones that stick out of the skin. The author wishes to arrange things so that some people will drink the stench and shame from their lips. Joyce tells the reader that the events seen last are not meant to be serenaded.

The Irish writer states that hunger stings. He advises the reader to tear out his heart and eat it, while imagining that it is a spicy fruit.