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: James Joyce and His View of the Irish People Through His Writing in the "dubliners"

"Dubliners" of James Joyce is a unique workof the upper-class. The author lets the ready
of literature in many senses. The primaryknow that Jimmy understands that he is not
outstanding feature of this book lies in thefitting in and does not have what it takes to
very structure of it. It consists of fourbe as witty and as clever as his friends, but
major elements, that in turn consist of fewwhat matter to him is this: "He had been seen
stories that are not connected with eachby many of his friends that day in the
other but the reader somehow realizes thatcompany of these Continentals." (Joyce 39).
they all talk about common things that wereSuch shallow comprehension of happiness is
present in Irish society at that time. Theundeniably  criticized  by  James  Joyce.
order of the stories is specifically designed
to show the reader how the characters of theDescribing dinner in its outrageous falsity
book are growing and changing their views andthe author stresses how shallow Jimmy's
attitudes. Joyce was a master of constructingfamily as a whole part of the Irish society
books in such a way so that he could conveyis. They are proud of their son's
deep meaning to the reader not only throughacquaintances only because they have foreign
the master theme but also with the help ofnames, and his father even talks to the
systematically, almost geometricallyHungarian although he is very poor. It is
organized stories and events. Evidently suchhard to believe that society described by
approach made possible designing aJames Joyce in "Dubliners" wanted to mimic
masterpiece of "Dubliners" in which fourfoldall the "great" other countries and were
composition was meant to describe people wholosing their own identity as a nation. This
were  born,  matured  and  died  in  Dublin.was especially well seen from a distance that
Joyce was writing his book. He was not in
Through the first section of the book JamesDublin when he created his masterpiece; being
Joyce is portraying childhood. It isaway gave him a different prospective on the
interesting to observe that all three storiescity and its residents. Citizens such as
of the childhood section are told from theJimmy are caught in paralysis and seem to
first person and we as readers become totallyhave no way out, although they are able to
submerged into the world seen through thecontrol to some events in their lives and
eyes of ten-year old boys. Such a sincere andavoid troubles. "He knew that he would regret
receptive tone of the stories communicatesin the morning but at present he was glad of
the feeling of innocence which isthe rest, glad of the dark stupor that would
accompanying the heroes. The author thus seescover up his folly." (Joyce 44) that is how
these boys as young people unspoiled by theJimmy thinks when he loses game after game on
society outside of their imaginary world. Asthe yacht. He is unable to control himself
Joyce says "I have written it for the mostand can't stop losing his father's money. The
part in a style of scrupulousauthor does not give explanation, as to why
meanness.."(Gorman v-iv), this line was abouthe acts the way he does, but one thing is
"Dubliners". Comparing the actual work andapparent- he is trapped in a stupor and it is
this characteristic of the author it becomesbeyond his power to turn around and walk
evident that indeed his characters are quiteaway.
boring and subtle in what they do and say.
Their images according to Joyce are all theEpiphany that Joyce includes in every story
same and that is where the "paralysis" themeis meant to bring revelation to the heroes if
is  uncovered.only for a moment and give them the insight
on reality of what is happening around them.
The first story in "Dubliners" is "The"Daybreak, gentlemen!" is such epiphany in
sisters" it sets the tone for the entireJimmy's case, who would see that the night
book. It starts with a quiet depressing line:has ended with its vicious traps that have
"There was no hope for him this time: it wascaptured his mind. By contrasting the
the third stroke." (Joyce 4). Clearly Jamesdaylight with the night's troubles the author
Joyce here attempts to tell the reader whatdeepens the feeling of deception that the
he thinks of citizens of his native citycharacters  are  living  with.
altogether. Such sad beginning can hardly
lead to the positive ending, as we see itThird part of the book is meant to contain
happen in the end of the book. In this shortmaturity stage of a person living in Dublin
story the author shows how the world ofin the middle of the twenty's century. "He
adults and childhood is clashing and how thetook up his pen and dipped it in the ink but
two can barely understand each other. So ahe continued to stare stupidly at the last
little boy who finds out about his friend'swords he had written"(Joyce 89) this was the
death does not know how to behave in away how many people in the city existed
standard way as adults do. He meets face toaccording to James Joyce. Farrington who is a
face with loss of someone who was dear to himcopier is living a pitiful live, he
and who truly understood him. This eventunderstands that all ingredients of it only
brings a new realization of how things reallyenrage him but do not bring satisfaction. He
are for the boy as he can see the dead priestis not a young fellow anymore like those in
in a different light. His aunt and Father"After the Race" and there is hardly any
Flynn's sister are talking about him: "He waschance that the course of his life will
too scrupulous always, she said." (Joyce 10)change. This sad circumstance, Joyce
and this new image that is painted by themintensifies by description of Farrington's
appears to be somewhat unusual for the boy.inner rage and violence for people at work,
That is when he comprehends that he is not awife and children at home and his general
youngster without his own thoughts and ideas,sense of frustration in all spheres of his
but he perceives himself as an individual.existence. Obviously such situation is not a
Such change in boy's perception of the worldrare one even in our modern society, when
is crucial as it implies that he will be nopeople are strapped in circumstances that
longer dreaming like children do but will bethey probably have never envisioned for
immersed in environment where society rulesthemselves. The real world appears to be a
and where religion is a light in the end ofcruel and difficult place to survive in and
the  tunnel  not  a  vivid  life around them.such reality hits the hero of "Counterparts".
Thus he is choosing to hide in the bars with
Obviously the author is hinting on thehis so called friends drinking himself to
general mood of Dublin's life and itsunconscious state in which he wishes to stay
inhabitants. By dramatically depicting deathmost of the time seeking escape from his
of the priest and gloomy relatives, he givesproblems.
the reader an illustration of what is
happening to the people in the city,Hopelessness is one word that can describe
especially those religiously inclined.the situation in which Farrington has found
Letting the priest die on the first page ofhimself. This single episode accumulates the
the book, he thus already concludes thatentire section of Irish society that was
religion with its ancient texts does notstuck in problems because of drinking and
provide answers to the question of happinessunwillingness to change their lives. Too lazy
and contentment in life. Irony of "Theand too scared to act in order to start
Sisters" matures from the idea that the boyliving a happy life was too much of a task.
was almost in love with the priest andStagnation in existence of such Farringtons
thought of him as authority. When he diescaused them to give birth to the same kind of
however, it appears that he was going mad.people as they were unable to provide a
This controversy serves for James as thebetter example, and society kept locked in
basis for proving his idea that religiousthis paralyzed circle. The final and most
truths have little to do with the real worldsymbolic part of the book is called "the
in most instances. Although the boy believespublic life", needless to say that the author
his friend, he needs to wake up from thehas named it for specific reasons. Three
perfect dream and meet with reality in whichprevious sections represented phases in a
things are not as positive looking as in theperson's life but the last one is a picture
sacred Latin texts. "The Sisters" as theof the entire society, in which individuals
first book out of fifteen in "Dubliners"are shaping the norms and views that in turn
demonstrates that Irish society is deeplyaffect society as a whole. Gabriel Conroy is
paralyzed by disagreement between rules thatthe main character in the last story "The
are imposed on its members and process ofDead" that takes place at the holiday dance.
moral decay that is constantly developing inClearly the setting of it plays a separate
the city's streets. Human inability to deciderole that has to emphasize the reality as
how to live in accordance with their naturalopposed to that one during the ball. The
wishes concerns the author who is depictingentire story is built around Gabriel and his
low-spirited people living as if they wereencounters with other guests. Those
waiting  to  die  any  minute.experiences are not of a pleasant character
for him because they are forcing him to come
In the second set of stories that Joyceout of his shell of egocentrism and
considered adolescence period, "After theselfishness. Joyce intends to reveal the
Race" is a significant one for a few reasons.notion of objectivity in Gabriel's epiphany
It introduces a group of fellows,and thus show how everyone in the society is
representatives from different countries whoconnected. His epiphany illustrates that an
are somehow united. Clearly the threeobjective perspective can lead to genuine
gentlemen from France and Hungary have foundsympathy between people that is caused by
a common ground in their education andrealization of human mortality. The author in
interests that they shared. All three of themhis story calls for unity in people and uses
were foreigners in Dublin and that made themtools such as death and despair in his
such a unique crowd. Jimmy was with them,writing, as those symbols signify important
although he was too excited by the merethings in everybody's life and make people
thought of it to actually understand andrealize and appreciate what they have. Once
enjoy things that were happening around him.again Joyce's genius found a way to convey
In this story James Joyce specificallyhis  thoughts  through  masterful  writing.
indicates that even young people in his city
were poisoned by the perception of wealth and"Dubliners" is a work of art that requires
money power, but moreover a socialscrupulous investigation and knowledge of
status-class. It is a known fact that socialhistorical background of Ireland. It paints a
class in Ireland and Great Britain is ofpicture of individual's life from childhood
great importance and means even more thanto being a public figure, or a merely dead
personal qualities, it is like a verdictbody according to the author. He shows how
which  defines  personality.children stop dreaming and seeing life in
through pink glasses and how their illusions
In this story Joyce gives Jimmy, the mainare broken by death of a friend. Adolescence
character, his father's money and educationas a second step in life requires clever
that was enough to be elevated in class. Itdecisions and strong will, without which
seems that those things would be enough tofuture happiness is hardly reachable. This
provide Jimmy with respect and high standing.point is proved in a third fragment of a
Ironically, it does satisfy the requirementsmovie called life and people who were not
of the society, but the hero himself cannotcareful during early years will pay for it
agree with his destiny. He is depressed bywhen maturity comes. Transformations that
the fact that he is not that noble and is noteach individual has to undergo in life Joyce
born in the aristocratic family like his newreduced to the size of the book in attempt to
French friends. The idea behind this is thatdepict a "moral history" (Gorman v-iv) of his
he feels oppressed and does not fit into thiscity according to his own words. He is not
group of people, although he really wants tobeing very sympathetic with his fellow
appear as equal. Again in the beginning ofcountrymen who are kept paralyzed by either:
"After the Race", Joyce expresses his initialreligious misconceptions, dissatisfaction of
attitude toward people like Jimmy: "Now andpersonal status or simple laziness. Joyce
again the clumps of people raised the cheerhowever is being generous sometimes and
of the gratefully oppressed"(Joyce 37). Thisgrants Dubliners a glimpse of truth and
line is characterizing people such as Jimmy,reality that is lost in every day's routine
who are willing to be psychologicallyand social constrains.
oppressed if they only are considered a part



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