The Birthday Party

Stanley enters and finds McCann at the table tearing up a newspaper, and they introduce themselves. When Stanley says he is going out, however, McCann stands in his way and says Stanley should stay since there’s going to be a party for his birthday—the party is all planned, and a young woman as well as McCann’s friend will be in attendance. McCann keeps moving to block Stanley’s exit. Stanley picks up a strip of paper, but McCann tells him not to. McCann also won’t answer questions, and when Stanley asks him about his stay at the boarding house, he says only that it will be short.

Stanley comments that McCann seems familiar, wondering if they perhaps met in his hometown. Stanley even refers to specific locations, but McCann tersely denies they’ve met. Stanley says McCann and Goldberg will find their stay invigorating, remarking that he enjoys living there but expects to move on soon. Stanley explains that he used to keep to himself and lived a quiet life, but he started a small business that required him to leave home. Now, Stanley wants to give up his business and return home: “You never get used to living in someone else’s house” (40).