1. PARALYSIS AND CHANGE

2. The Dubliners by J. Joyce
15 short stories
4 groups
Descriptions= realistic and symbolic
The Dubliners
by J. Joyce
Focus: on the protagonists’ emotional paralysis
Characters are similar: all are affected by emotional paralysis
Characters are different in age/sex/social/cultural /psychological background

3. The Dubliners EMOTIONAL PARALYSIS
spiritually dead
fearful people
slaves of their familiar, moral cultural, religious political life
exiles at home
unable to cut their bonds
Inability to change the present course of their lives
Failure to find a way out of present situation
EMOTIONAL PARALYSIS
Historical, social,
psychological forces
Oppressive Irish mentality shaped by politics and religion

4. Awareness of such failure
EPIPHANY
Sudden spiritual revelation which makes the Dubliners aware of their paralysis

5. realistic descriptions:
STYLE
naturalistic
A framework of the characters’s formless thoughts
realistic descriptions:
precise details
Symbolical meaning:
Further depeer meaning beyond the usual aspects of life

6. J. Joyce family Middle-class Catholic family
Father great influence on him
Comfortable economic situation
Impoverished situation
Down the social ladder
Dublin
Moved house from good to less good
Great consciousness of Dublin
education
Rigorous Jesuit education
Discipline intelligence
Intellectual subtlety
religion
Early uncomfortable with religion
Various traps
Voluntary exile

7. Modern international writer
Work based on day to day life of Dublin
European rather than an Irish man
A realistic portrait of Ireland from a European, cosmopolitan viewpoint
To increase Ireland’s awareness

9. To go away with her lover
Eveline
Internal struggle
To stay home
To go away with her lover
Unable to take a daring decision: Paralysis
Tiring, boring and hard life
Security
Protection
Not totally undesirable
immobility
Enjoyment, happiness
Excitement
Fear of the unknown
Something outside her control
movement