So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual content, gender discrimination, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual violence and harassment.

Cathal is the protagonist of the short story “So Late in the Day.” Throughout the story, the third-person narrator inhabits his consciousness and renders the narrative world according to his perspective.

Cathal is a middle-aged man who works in Dublin, Ireland and lives in the town of Arklow, located outside the city center. Roughly two years before the narrative present, Cathal meets Sabine at a conference he’s attending and pursues her when he notices she isn’t wearing a wedding ring. Initially, Cathal is “drawn to how she [is] dressed” and how she seems “at ease in herself” (15). However, his regard for Sabine changes when they start dating. The way that Cathal sees Sabine is a direct reflection of his character, particularly his misogynistic viewpoints. He enjoys the fact that Sabine is a good cook, for example, but he also resents how much money she spends on ingredients and her habit of leaving dirty dishes in his kitchen sink when she stays over and cooks for him.