| "Dubliners" of James Joyce is a unique work of | | | | considered a part of the upper-class. The author |
| literature in many senses. The primary outstanding | | | | lets the ready know that Jimmy understands that |
| feature of this book lies in the very structure of | | | | he is not fitting in and does not have what it |
| it. It consists of four major elements, that in turn | | | | takes to be as witty and as clever as his friends, |
| consist of few stories that are not connected | | | | but what matter to him is this: "He had been seen |
| with each other but the reader somehow realizes | | | | by many of his friends that day in the company |
| that they all talk about common things that were | | | | of these Continentals." (Joyce 39). Such shallow |
| present in Irish society at that time. The order of | | | | comprehension of happiness is undeniably criticized |
| the stories is specifically designed to show the | | | | by James Joyce. |
| reader how the characters of the book are | | | | Describing dinner in its outrageous falsity the |
| growing and changing their views and attitudes. | | | | author stresses how shallow Jimmy's family as a |
| Joyce was a master of constructing books in | | | | whole part of the Irish society is. They are proud |
| such a way so that he could convey deep | | | | of their son's acquaintances only because they |
| meaning to the reader not only through the | | | | have foreign names, and his father even talks to |
| master theme but also with the help of | | | | the Hungarian although he is very poor. It is hard |
| systematically, almost geometrically organized | | | | to believe that society described by James Joyce |
| stories and events. Evidently such approach made | | | | in "Dubliners" wanted to mimic all the "great" other |
| possible designing a masterpiece of "Dubliners" in | | | | countries and were losing their own identity as a |
| which fourfold composition was meant to describe | | | | nation. This was especially well seen from a |
| people who were born, matured and died in Dublin. | | | | distance that Joyce was writing his book. He was |
| Through the first section of the book James | | | | not in Dublin when he created his masterpiece; |
| Joyce is portraying childhood. It is interesting to | | | | being away gave him a different prospective on |
| observe that all three stories of the childhood | | | | the city and its residents. Citizens such as Jimmy |
| section are told from the first person and we as | | | | are caught in paralysis and seem to have no way |
| readers become totally submerged into the world | | | | out, although they are able to control to some |
| seen through the eyes of ten-year old boys. Such | | | | events in their lives and avoid troubles. "He knew |
| a sincere and receptive tone of the stories | | | | that he would regret in the morning but at |
| communicates the feeling of innocence which is | | | | present he was glad of the rest, glad of the dark |
| accompanying the heroes. The author thus sees | | | | stupor that would cover up his folly." (Joyce 44) |
| these boys as young people unspoiled by the | | | | that is how Jimmy thinks when he loses game |
| society outside of their imaginary world. As Joyce | | | | after game on the yacht. He is unable to control |
| says "I have written it for the most part in a | | | | himself and can't stop losing his father's money. |
| style of scrupulous meanness.."(Gorman v-iv), this | | | | The author does not give explanation, as to why |
| line was about "Dubliners". Comparing the actual | | | | he acts the way he does, but one thing is |
| work and this characteristic of the author it | | | | apparent- he is trapped in a stupor and it is |
| becomes evident that indeed his characters are | | | | beyond his power to turn around and walk away. |
| quite boring and subtle in what they do and say. | | | | Epiphany that Joyce includes in every story is |
| Their images according to Joyce are all the same | | | | meant to bring revelation to the heroes if only for |
| and that is where the "paralysis" theme is | | | | a moment and give them the insight on reality of |
| uncovered. | | | | what is happening around them. "Daybreak, |
| The first story in "Dubliners" is "The sisters" it | | | | gentlemen!" is such epiphany in Jimmy's case, who |
| sets the tone for the entire book. It starts with a | | | | would see that the night has ended with its |
| quiet depressing line: "There was no hope for him | | | | vicious traps that have captured his mind. By |
| this time: it was the third stroke." (Joyce 4). | | | | contrasting the daylight with the night's troubles |
| Clearly James Joyce here attempts to tell the | | | | the author deepens the feeling of deception that |
| reader what he thinks of citizens of his native city | | | | the characters are living with. |
| altogether. Such sad beginning can hardly lead to | | | | Third part of the book is meant to contain |
| the positive ending, as we see it happen in the | | | | maturity stage of a person living in Dublin in the |
| end of the book. In this short story the author | | | | middle of the twenty's century. "He took up his |
| shows how the world of adults and childhood is | | | | pen and dipped it in the ink but he continued to |
| clashing and how the two can barely understand | | | | stare stupidly at the last words he had |
| each other. So a little boy who finds out about his | | | | written"(Joyce 89) this was the way how many |
| friend's death does not know how to behave in a | | | | people in the city existed according to James |
| standard way as adults do. He meets face to | | | | Joyce. Farrington who is a copier is living a pitiful |
| face with loss of someone who was dear to him | | | | live, he understands that all ingredients of it only |
| and who truly understood him. This event brings a | | | | enrage him but do not bring satisfaction. He is not |
| new realization of how things really are for the | | | | a young fellow anymore like those in "After the |
| boy as he can see the dead priest in a different | | | | Race" and there is hardly any chance that the |
| light. His aunt and Father Flynn's sister are talking | | | | course of his life will change. This sad |
| about him: "He was too scrupulous always, she | | | | circumstance, Joyce intensifies by description of |
| said." (Joyce 10) and this new image that is | | | | Farrington's inner rage and violence for people at |
| painted by them appears to be somewhat unusual | | | | work, wife and children at home and his general |
| for the boy. That is when he comprehends that | | | | sense of frustration in all spheres of his existence. |
| he is not a youngster without his own thoughts | | | | Obviously such situation is not a rare one even in |
| and ideas, but he perceives himself as an individual. | | | | our modern society, when people are strapped in |
| Such change in boy's perception of the world is | | | | circumstances that they probably have never |
| crucial as it implies that he will be no longer | | | | envisioned for themselves. The real world appears |
| dreaming like children do but will be immersed in | | | | to be a cruel and difficult place to survive in and |
| environment where society rules and where | | | | such reality hits the hero of "Counterparts". Thus |
| religion is a light in the end of the tunnel not a | | | | he is choosing to hide in the bars with his so called |
| vivid life around them. | | | | friends drinking himself to unconscious state in |
| Obviously the author is hinting on the general | | | | which he wishes to stay most of the time |
| mood of Dublin's life and its inhabitants. By | | | | seeking escape from his problems. |
| dramatically depicting death of the priest and | | | | Hopelessness is one word that can describe the |
| gloomy relatives, he gives the reader an | | | | situation in which Farrington has found himself. |
| illustration of what is happening to the people in | | | | This single episode accumulates the entire section |
| the city, especially those religiously inclined. Letting | | | | of Irish society that was stuck in problems |
| the priest die on the first page of the book, he | | | | because of drinking and unwillingness to change |
| thus already concludes that religion with its ancient | | | | their lives. Too lazy and too scared to act in order |
| texts does not provide answers to the question | | | | to start living a happy life was too much of a |
| of happiness and contentment in life. Irony of | | | | task. Stagnation in existence of such Farringtons |
| "The Sisters" matures from the idea that the boy | | | | caused them to give birth to the same kind of |
| was almost in love with the priest and thought of | | | | people as they were unable to provide a better |
| him as authority. When he dies however, it | | | | example, and society kept locked in this paralyzed |
| appears that he was going mad. This controversy | | | | circle. The final and most symbolic part of the |
| serves for James as the basis for proving his idea | | | | book is called "the public life", needless to say that |
| that religious truths have little to do with the real | | | | the author has named it for specific reasons. |
| world in most instances. Although the boy believes | | | | Three previous sections represented phases in a |
| his friend, he needs to wake up from the perfect | | | | person's life but the last one is a picture of the |
| dream and meet with reality in which things are | | | | entire society, in which individuals are shaping the |
| not as positive looking as in the sacred Latin | | | | norms and views that in turn affect society as a |
| texts. "The Sisters" as the first book out of | | | | whole. Gabriel Conroy is the main character in the |
| fifteen in "Dubliners" demonstrates that Irish | | | | last story "The Dead" that takes place at the |
| society is deeply paralyzed by disagreement | | | | holiday dance. Clearly the setting of it plays a |
| between rules that are imposed on its members | | | | separate role that has to emphasize the reality as |
| and process of moral decay that is constantly | | | | opposed to that one during the ball. The entire |
| developing in the city's streets. Human inability to | | | | story is built around Gabriel and his encounters |
| decide how to live in accordance with their natural | | | | with other guests. Those experiences are not of |
| wishes concerns the author who is depicting | | | | a pleasant character for him because they are |
| low-spirited people living as if they were waiting to | | | | forcing him to come out of his shell of |
| die any minute. | | | | egocentrism and selfishness. Joyce intends to |
| In the second set of stories that Joyce | | | | reveal the notion of objectivity in Gabriel's |
| considered adolescence period, "After the Race" is | | | | epiphany and thus show how everyone in the |
| a significant one for a few reasons. It introduces | | | | society is connected. His epiphany illustrates that |
| a group of fellows, representatives from different | | | | an objective perspective can lead to genuine |
| countries who are somehow united. Clearly the | | | | sympathy between people that is caused by |
| three gentlemen from France and Hungary have | | | | realization of human mortality. The author in his |
| found a common ground in their education and | | | | story calls for unity in people and uses tools such |
| interests that they shared. All three of them | | | | as death and despair in his writing, as those |
| were foreigners in Dublin and that made them | | | | symbols signify important things in everybody's |
| such a unique crowd. Jimmy was with them, | | | | life and make people realize and appreciate what |
| although he was too excited by the mere thought | | | | they have. Once again Joyce's genius found a |
| of it to actually understand and enjoy things that | | | | way to convey his thoughts through masterful |
| were happening around him. In this story James | | | | writing. |
| Joyce specifically indicates that even young people | | | | "Dubliners" is a work of art that requires |
| in his city were poisoned by the perception of | | | | scrupulous investigation and knowledge of historical |
| wealth and money power, but moreover a social | | | | background of Ireland. It paints a picture of |
| status-class. It is a known fact that social class in | | | | individual's life from childhood to being a public |
| Ireland and Great Britain is of great importance | | | | figure, or a merely dead body according to the |
| and means even more than personal qualities, it is | | | | author. He shows how children stop dreaming and |
| like a verdict which defines personality. | | | | seeing life in through pink glasses and how their |
| In this story Joyce gives Jimmy, the main | | | | illusions are broken by death of a friend. |
| character, his father's money and education that | | | | Adolescence as a second step in life requires |
| was enough to be elevated in class. It seems that | | | | clever decisions and strong will, without which |
| those things would be enough to provide Jimmy | | | | future happiness is hardly reachable. This point is |
| with respect and high standing. Ironically, it does | | | | proved in a third fragment of a movie called life |
| satisfy the requirements of the society, but the | | | | and people who were not careful during early |
| hero himself cannot agree with his destiny. He is | | | | years will pay for it when maturity comes. |
| depressed by the fact that he is not that noble | | | | Transformations that each individual has to |
| and is not born in the aristocratic family like his | | | | undergo in life Joyce reduced to the size of the |
| new French friends. The idea behind this is that he | | | | book in attempt to depict a "moral history" |
| feels oppressed and does not fit into this group of | | | | (Gorman v-iv) of his city according to his own |
| people, although he really wants to appear as | | | | words. He is not being very sympathetic with his |
| equal. Again in the beginning of "After the Race", | | | | fellow countrymen who are kept paralyzed by |
| Joyce expresses his initial attitude toward people | | | | either: religious misconceptions, dissatisfaction of |
| like Jimmy: "Now and again the clumps of people | | | | personal status or simple laziness. Joyce however |
| raised the cheer of the gratefully | | | | is being generous sometimes and grants Dubliners |
| oppressed"(Joyce 37). This line is characterizing | | | | a glimpse of truth and reality that is lost in every |
| people such as Jimmy, who are willing to be | | | | day's routine and social constrains. |
| psychologically oppressed if they only are | | | | |