Abstract This paper illustrates the issues of large urban port cities as seen in Dublin and New York City. The paper provides an in-depth history of each city and compares the social issues of the urban environment, ethnic diversity, poverty and crime.
From the Paper "New York City is generally considered the doorway to America. It is the largest city in the nation, seven million strong, and a main hub of financial activity. This is probably the most racially and ethnically diverse of the large American cities, the epitome of the melting pot. A third of the population is of African descent, fifteen percent are Jewish, twelve percent Hispanic. Other ethnic populations have a vocal presence, including the Irish, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Indian, and other Asians. If one city has represent urban America over the last 200 years, it would be the harbor city of New York, New York.
" Across the Atlantic ocean lies another city, a little farther from the ocean, though not much. It is the "fair city" of Dublin, that capitol of the Republic of Ireland. This is a fairly heterogeneous city, for it is the center of 4,000 year old struggle for cultural sanctity and independence. The vast majority of the citizens are Irish or British nationals, Christian and white. Most are Roman Catholic, and the largest "minority" are the British Protestants. One fourth of the citizens of Ireland, approximately 900,000 souls all told, now live in Dublin and its suburbs, and its name is becoming synonymous with Irish culture and tradition."
Tags:dublin, new, york, city, urban, city, cities, port, social, issue, environemnt, ethnic, diversity, poverty, crime
Abstract There are two kinds of stories in "Dubliners" - those that are intimate and really involve the readers with the characters and those that are detached and show the reader as being more of just a casual observer. Both of the story types are fascinating, but not everyone will like the stories because of the different feelings that they often invoke in the readers. However, the main purpose of this paper is not to discuss the book specifically, but instead to discuss how it relates to the actual life that James Joyce lived.
From the Paper "Even though the idea of hope is very important to the stories in "Dubliners", this does not mean that the book is full of happy endings. On the contrary, there are very few happy endings in the book. Instead, there are only the stories that Joyce tells, what happens to the people in them, the choices that they make, and what kinds of consequences that these individuals experience based on the choices that they make. Many of the people in the stories do not think of the future or even really realize that it is ahead of them."
Abstract This paper discusses similarities between James Joyce's novel "Ulysses" and the collection of short stories, "The Dubliners," especially themes of Irish Catholicism. It also looks at the stories "Araby," "Eveline" and "Counterparts" and their thematic relationship to "Ulysses."
From the Paper "While the slim volume Dubliners is years and indeed light-years away from Ulysses in style and scope, the culture out of which Joyce drew his material is identical for both texts. Irish Catholicism from which Joyce was famously not only disconnected but also ..."
Abstract This paper looks at the collection of short stories by James Joyce "Dubliners". The paper focuses on the final story "The Dead" and its role as the culmination of many themes begun in other stories in the book. Specifically the book looks at the themes of parental abandonment, apostasy, lost love, financial failure, decay and finally death. These indicate Joyce's perceptions of the death of Ireland.
From the Paper "The collection of short stories by James Joyce called Dubliners draws a picture of life in that city in the early 20th century, and is descriptive not only of the people in specific, but also of the country as a whole. Joyce's pessimistic view of the state of the country at that time is made abundantly clear in the course of this collection of stories, which flow together so cohesively they might well be considered as one work. Dubliners concludes with "The Dead," also the longest story in the book with the largest and most complex cast of characters, and is the most highly symbolic of Joyce's perceptions of the state and fate of Ireland in the early 1900s."
Abstract This paper discusses how the the predominant strain of James Joyce's stories are told within Dublin's geographic sphere and how it is Dublin that remains the central universe of Joyce's writing, holding him hostage even in his subsequent freedom after he left Dublin. The paper looks at how the themes of escapism and the fallible monomyths as well as the ideas of stagnation and frustrated helplessness are described frequently in "Dubliners". The paper explains that there are fifteen short stories in all and then examines how each one offers emerging and blatant evidence of the paralysis of Dublin, with the background of each story remaining a pervading theme of being unable to escape.
From the Paper "Tone is an important aspect of Joyce's Dubliners, it drives the connection between each story, along with several other themes, such as an individual on some sort of journey which ultimately proves to be a failure, resulting in a return to the place they originated from - call it a negative boomerang effect; that's what it seems like to me. Is it perverse to enjoy reading the downfall of all these young hopefuls? I hope not, because I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The form of the stories are short (duh) and concise; I love the clarity of the language used. Joyce is so blatant in his cutting down of these people that I can't help but ponder the correlations between these characters and his own history. Perhaps he writes to exercise his own Dublin demons..."
Abstract This paper discusses love in James Joyce's "Dubliners", through the analysis of selected stories: "Araby", "Eveline", "A Painful Case" and "The Dead". It looks at how his love stories reflect his attitude towards Dublin (harsh, not softened or sweetened) and for that reason they rarely have "happily ever after" type endings. The paper moves chronologically through the book and shows how the book also proceeds chronologically in terms of the age of characters (Joyce's idea) who steadily grow older story by story, to represent the different facets of a Dubliner's life.
From the Paper ""Araby" is one of Joyce's stories of childhood, of childhood love. Even the setting is so hopelessly idealistic: "The space of sky above us was the color of ever-changing violet and towards it the lamps of the street lifted their feeble lanterns. The cold air stung us and we played till our bodies glowed" (24). This boy, who has fallen in love with his friend Mangan's sister, is completely desperate for her: He follows her in the shadows as though she were a ?summons to [his] foolish blood,? his "heart leaped" at the very sight of her on the doorstep, his "body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires" (25). When they finally talk to one another, she tells him she would like to go to the bazaar, but can?t."
Abstract This paper explains that, while it is tempting to read James Joyce's "Dubliners" as a simple narrative description of 'a chapter of the moral history' of Ireland, with Dublin serving as 'the centre of paralysis', Joyce was actually concerned with suggesting a means of moving out of this paralysis. More specifically, the paper stresses that 'The Dead', the fifteenth and final story of "Dubliners", should be seen not as a mere description of paralysis but as a means of suggesting a way forward or out of this condition. The author relates that the word 'escape' appears in no less than four of the stories in this collection; therefore, this word itself can be seen to hold the key to how Joyce's "Dubliners" is to be read. The paper presents a chapter by chapter description and analysis of each short story.
From the Paper "At this early stage in Dubliners, however, these concepts are merely signified. The reader is, in other words, merely offered what Saussure would term 'signs' or words. In fact, that the significance of these key words is announced typographically, in italics, very quickly draws attention to the fact that it is words that we are dealing with here. Accordingly, when the reader is presented with these words, it is not the concepts underlying them that trouble the narrator of 'The Sisters,' but the words themselves and their fundamental sounds. The narrator has, he says, taken to saying the word 'paralysis' 'softly' to himself 'every night ... .
Abstract This paper examines the theme of paralysis in "Dubliners", a collection of short stories by James Joyce. It begins with a description of the religious, economic, cultural, and political oppression in Dublin. It then specifically expands on several of the stories in the collection: ?The Sisters,? ?Araby,? ?Eveline,? ?Two Gallants,? and ?The Dead.? Finally, the paper examines Joyce's writing style.
From the Paper "James Joyce constructed a collection of short stories intended to present the city of Dublin during the early twentieth century in a straightforward manner. The theme of paralysis permeates the work to show the city as well as the whole of Ireland as oppressed by religious, economic, cultural, and political circumstances. Every story in the collection, beginning with "The Sisters" and continuing to the final revelation in ?The Dead,? is infused with this theme. Joyce himself admitted to the "special odor of corruption which, I hope, floats over my stories" (Grey). He was aware that his tales would be raw, his pictures of Ireland unadorned by compassion. However much he identified with the characters he created, Joyce retained a candor that allowed him to keep "a style of scrupulous meanness" (Brandabur 8) throughout."
Tags: araby, childhood, adolescence, maturity, public, life, city, ireland
Abstract This paper discusses the book "Dubliners", a collection of short stories written by James Joyce, an Irish modernist of the early 20th century. The paper describes how women are the best of a bad, all too human collection of Irish characters in "Dubliners". The paper explores the deflationary but compassionate view of the sexual urges of both men and women over the course of Joyce's collection of short stories in "Dubliners".
From the Paper "Of course it is true in the Dublin of Joyce's creation that at times, intense female sensuality (both in the sense of the female connection to the sensual life of food and drink as well as sex) can make it seem as though the intellectual Joyce views women negatively, as merely physical creatures. But in actuality, although Joyce does view this aspect of female life with occasional irony and humor, he ultimately sees what he considers as a particularly female attribute as an example of women's greater humility and respect for the true, earthly nature of human existence."
Abstract The paper examines how Joyce's writing about Dublin in "The Dubliners" reflects the moral, intellectual and spiritual paralysis he saw in Irish society. The paper examines several stories such as "The Sisters," "Eveline," "After the Race" and "An Encounter" in order to illustrate how these stories are a manifestation of Joyce's ambivalent feelings toward his origins. The paper points out, however, that Joyce is not entirely hopeless in his view of the people of Dublin and thus of the world. The paper shows how he believes that some will be able to find a way to escape from the paralysis of society.
From the Paper "The Dubliners is a collection of short stories by James Joyce, written and arranged in away that creates a meta-narrative about life in the city of Dublin and that expresses Joyce's ambivalence toward the city where he was raised. One of the primary themes in these stories is paralysis, for Joyce sees Ireland as a whole as if it were locked into a time and place that is different from that experienced by the rest of the world. The stories are arranged from childhood to old age and beyond, always showing how the people are tied to the religious conflict between Catholic and Protestant and to the clash between each in the early part of the Twentieth Century."
Abstract This paper focuses on the analysis of characterization and some characters of James Joyce's "Dubliners". The study pays attention to the characters in the stories 'The Sisters,' 'Eveline,' and 'The Dead'. Since clarifying, analysing, and evaluating all characters of an important literary work like "Dubliners" demands a deep long-term scholarship, the author tries to focus on the mentioned stories, the characters of which are the elements that shape the general structure of them.
Outline:
Introduction
Character and Characterization
Character from Different Perspectives
Character Construction
"Dubliners" and its Characters
"The Sisters"
"Eveline"
"The Dead"
Conclusions
From the Paper "Although the first story is narrated from the young boy's view point, it mostly suggests and depicts two old sisters as stereotypical women. Corrington argues that the old sisters represent "the Irish people, always ready to serve" (22). The sisters are apparently flat characters whose actions are tied to their touching situations like poverty and the brother's death, and their religious devotion. They are uneducated unlike their deceased brother who had studied in Rome. The sisters are the women who sustain the religious rituals so that their action seems unreasonable in comparison to their brother who once was a priest. The sisters are characters whose presence, actions, and discursive representation convey their flatness as well as their implied role in suggesting the theme of poverty, and institutional power of the church. "
Abstract This essay reviews ?The Dubliners,? as a story not only about the Irish who live in Dublin, but as a story of a people with a long heritage, rooted in their beliefs and their religion. It is the story of the power of religion, not only over the people, but also over the entire country. The author claims that Joyce's distrust, dislike, and censure of the Catholic Church is critical to the very core of the book.
From the Paper "James Augustine Joyce was born in a wealthy Dublin suburb in 1882. "The Joyce family was initially well off as Dublin merchants with bloodlines that connected them to old Irish nobility in the country" (Borey). He was one of ten children.James attended an expensive Jesuit boys" school, which he later wrote about in "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man." However, his father tended to spend money lavishly and was often unemployed and the family fortune dwindled. He still associated with his wealthier friends, but the family moved often, and much of his time he spent on the streets. Financial woes continued throughout Joyce's boyhood. They followed him throughout his college life at University College in Dublin. They were there throughout his career, and often he would not have survived without the patronage of others.?
Abstract The essay examines how James Joyces' reacted with cynicism to sex, politics, and religion in his book of short stories, "Dubliners". The paper references many of the short stories, as well as analyzes Joyce's reaction to Dublin as a whole.
From the Paper "Dubliners is a book that is fuelled by unfulfilled stories, and disappointments, and it is clear that its people have adapted to expecting this. As a result, it is no surprise that ?cynicism has invaded sex, politics, and religion.? Dublin limits and frustrates its people, and it is clear that, considering the way he writes about the city, this is the effect it had on Joyce. This is particularly vivid in "A Painful Case", a desperate story of isolation and loneliness. Not only is the main character, James Duffy, cynical of love, but he is also scared of it. Mr. Duffy's imprisonment is self-imposed. He is terrifyingly alone and isolated, but he has chosen this life for himself. His life is based on routine ? an obsession with tidiness, and cleanliness. He is prudish, and this is represented in his wholly sexless relationship with Mrs. Sinico. Duffy lacks the courage or imagination to pursue happiness with Mrs. Sinico, despite the fact that both people are clearly dissatisfied with their current situations. However, Mr. Duffy does not realize the extent of his loneliness until it is too late."
Abstract This paper reviews James Joyces' novel "Dubliners" and in particular how the paralysis represented is both physical and emotional and is often associated with isolation. It examines how the characters are very human, and how Joyce was not afraid to give his characters many flaws although they are not likeable and are often in a form of emotional state. It analyzes how Joyce felt paralysis was a sin of sorts, a type of wrongdoing of the spirit that caused people to stagnate and fail. It shows how it is hard to relate to many of his characters because of their sheer lack of desire for progression and how their isolation would be considered pitiable, if they were more sympathetic. It evaluates whether these people could find redemption if they lived just about anywhere else except Dublin. Instead they are destined to live out their lives there, isolated from themselves, each other and humanity.
From the Paper "One of the possible problems for redemption of the characters is that they seem rather disinterested in changing their lives, they are static and for the most part seem to prefer the status quo. The few characters that do seem to want to break the mold that Dublin has forced upon them are incapable of transformation. Little Chandler in "Little Cloud" is the best example of this type. He claims to want to be like Gallaher, but rather than try, he assumes that he cannot escape his life since it too late for him, and besides, he has furniture to pay for (Joyce, 70)."
Tags: characters, sin, society, liberation, redemption
Abstract The paper comments that although "Dubliners" by James Joyce is a collection of short stories that reads like novel because the characters and situations all come together and relate the same story, the main theme is the spiritual and political paralysis of a nation. The paper then explores how this theme is presented in the book and how the paralysis experienced by those in "Dubliners" is both personal and national.
From the Paper "The paralysis of Dublin also extends to the Church which acts as both a paralysing force and is itself in a state of paralysis. Indeed none of the priests in Dubliners are portrayed favourably: In "Araby" the priest who had formerly lived in the house had left it littered with papers, left his rusty bicycle pump outside, and had left his sister nothing but his furniture in his will. Fr. Keon in "Ivy Day in the Committee Room" is referred to as "a black sheep" and though he belongs to no "chapel or church or institution" he is quite "thick" with the politicians and financially does quite all right although no one is sure how. Even Fr. Purdon, whose ascent to the pulpit literally entails a struggle (173), gets his name from Purdon Street, which in Dublin makes up part of the red-light district. These unflattering portrayals of the clergy exemplify the corruption of the Church and its resulting paralysis."
Tags: corruption, dominant, priests, economically, paralyzed, oppressive, force
