"Barry Lyndon" is filled with references to gambling, cards and games of chance.
But there's one very obvious little reference which I hadn't noticed before: in one scene, Captain Grogan pledges his money to Barry. In the following scene Grogan is killed. On his deathbed Grogan (incredulously and bizzarely) then informs Barry that he lost most of his/their money whilst playing cards the previous night.
Barry loses his daddy ('s money) again!.
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"It's the niceties that make the difference; fate shuffles the cards and we play." - Arthur Schopenhauer
I think characters in the film only verbally mention the word "cards" three times.
First Captain Grogan tells Barry that he "lost their money at cards". He then dies.
"Will you play cards with me tomorrow?" Barry's son later asks, before ominously telling his father that he is "scared of the dark". He then dies.
Barry also asks Lord Wendover to come over to his house because "we'd love to have you over for cards". Wendover declines. In a previous scene, Wendover tells a joke in which people mistook him for being dead.
The narrator mentions cards once: "Though they were prospering with the cards, they had little to show for their labour."
The first time we see Barry, he's also playing cards (with Nora). The last time we see Barry, he's playing cards upon a bed with his mother, and then walking into a carriage whilst many figures play cards behind him. In between these scenes, much merry card playing takes place.
Barry loses his daddy ('s money) again!.
The film seems preoccupied with suffering and the chasing of "satisfaction" (for example, Barry's father dies in the film's opening scene, chasing "satisfaction"). I think the following is every time the word "satisfy" and its derivatives are mentioned:
1. "I am not satisfied with these ways of going on."
2. "Mr. Quin can have satisfaction any time he pleases."
3. "Will that satisfy you, Captain Quin?"
4. "His host seemed satisfied with these stories."
5. "The Colonel's speech declared the King's satisfaction with the conduct of the Regiment."
6. "You must tell them I intend to demand satisfaction!"
7. "Has he already demanded satisfaction?"
8. "To satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding."
9. "Lady Lyndon's income was hampered almost irretrievably, to satisfy these claims."
10. "No gentleman can willingly suffer, without demanding satisfaction!"
11. "I have now come to claim satisfaction."
12. "Do you now consider that you have received satisfaction?"
13. "I have not received satisfaction."
Yeah that's what I meant. He never really had his father and was always searching for a replacement, ironically the issue really a oedipal one. There is the beautiful opening lines about Barry and the money he would have had...had his father not been killed in a duel lol. Classic Kubrick opening.
Certainly the dark irony of Barry Lyndon is indeed he did love his son, and did find satisfaction, briefly, in being a good father. Too much of Barry in little Bryan I'm afraid.
And the irony that there is little satisfaction to be had in the elegance of facade and culture without meaningful familiar relationships.
Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride
Speaking of satisfaction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE4C-Pbqo94
Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride
hah.
good catch.
Good catch.
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