In life's journey, one often comes to crucial crossroads in which one decides one's path, one's life and one's destiny. Faced with the consequences of an illicit affair and premarital sex, Mr. Bob Doran must choose whether to marry Polly Mooney, daughter of the boarding house's landlady or to watch his life ruined and his reputation smeared by this scandalous affair. Mrs. Mooney demands reparation. Mr. Doran loves Polly, yet he is not certain. Stuck in this dilemma, Mr. Doran fears his marriage to Polly.
             Before a new day dawns, an old day must end. Marriage opens the door to a lot of new wonders and possibilities. Yet it shuts the world of bachelorhood, along with its freedoms and this distresses Mr. Doran. Every pleasure has its corresponding responsibility, but he wants to just run away from it. His instinct urged him to remain free, not to marry. Once you are married you are done for it said (par 12). He even longed to ascend through the roof and fly away to another country where he would never hear again of his trouble (par. 22).
             Watching all the things he strived for obliterated in a single moment haunts Mr. Doran. Imagine, thirteen years of sweat swept away by the tide of scandal. The affair would soon be talked about, and his employer, a Great Catholic, would certainly hear about it, Dublin being a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business (par. 11). He could even feel his heart leap warmly in his throat as he heard in his excited imagination old Mr. Leonard calling him out in his rasping voice: "Send Mr. Doran here, please."(par. 11) A drop of sweet lust might cost him all his life's travail. Oh, the terrible price of sin!
             A beautiful piece of artwork is blemished. Works of restoration might take years to accomplish. Yet the damage has been done. Most of those who see it will still focus their attention on the f
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