First of all, and before we proceed with the actual description and basic layout of the term paper, it would be quite interesting to cite an extract from a letter that James Joyce himself wrote to his lover and partner Nora Barnacle. “How could I like the idea of home? … My mother was slowly killed, I think, by my father’s ill-treatment, by years of trouble, and by my cynical frankness of conduct. When I looked on her face as she lay in the coffin – a face grey and wasted with cancer- I understood that I was looking on the face of a victim and I cursed the system which had made her a victim.” (Letters, II, 48) 1 This quotation roused my interest and became my first motivation concerning the study of gender roles and sexual morality in ‘ Dubliners’, as it summarizes the cruel reality of the position of women at that period of time. In addition to that, it provides us with a general impression of what the situation in Dublin might have been, focusing on the rather inharmonic relations between the two sexes.This small study and description of the gender roles in ‘Dubliners’ is organized in two main parts. As Joyce’s intention was “to write a chapter of the moral history of my [his] country” (D, xxxi), it is essential that the first part provides us with the general historical background of that age. The historical part may conveniently be divided into two sections. The first concerns the roles of both sexes in the Victorian era, whereas the second section brings us closer to the reality of men and women in Ireland, and to be more specific in Dublin. This second section is of great importance, because as already implied by the last quotation, this collection of fifteen short- stories, published in 1914, are expected to mirror the reality of the society of Dublin of that time, and to be more specific, this is done in a very representative way, as the stories involve nearly all stages and aspects of life.After having a general impression of the roles of men and women living in the Irish capital, we will go on to check whether this is in fact true and representative of the people described in the stories of ‘ Dubliners’. This will consist the main topic of the second part of the term paper, which is in turn divided into three sections...
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Historical background
2.1. Gender roles in the Victorian period
2.2. Gender roles in the society of Dublin at the turn of the 20th century
3. Gender roles in ‘ Dubliners’
4. Marriage in ‘Dubliners’
5. Sexual morality in ‘Dubliners’
6. Conclusion
7. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This study aims to examine the complex interplay between gender roles, marriage, and sexual morality as depicted in James Joyce’s short story collection 'Dubliners', against the backdrop of turn-of-the-century Irish society. The central research question explores how the restrictive social and religious climate of Dublin influenced the lives, aspirations, and limitations of the characters within the stories.
- The influence of Victorian ideals and Catholic Church doctrine on gender roles.
- Economic and social challenges faced by men and women in Dublin at the turn of the 20th century.
- The institution of marriage as a site of social negotiation, entrapment, or frustration.
- The rejection of sexuality and its impact on the psychological paralysis of the characters.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Gender roles in the Victorian period
It is often claimed in the literature that the definition of gender has changed throughout the history and will always continue to change, because gender should not be confused with the physical attributes ascribed to each sex. Gender is associated with and is highly dependent on various factors, some of which are culture, historical location, geography, ethnicity, education, class and religious beliefs. To simplify it we can say that gender roles can be considered to be synonymous with the expectations that each society and cultural environment poses on its participants, as well as the actual results of such expectations; in other words the functions that women and men have in the society.
The Victorian period is estimated to span from about 1840 to 1900. This period is often connoted with the Victorian ideals, which we will shortly report here. The most important characteristic for that period was the clear division of the roles of men and women. There was a very clear division between two spheres, namely the domestic and the public one. These two spheres were representative of the two sexes. One can easily figure out, that the domain of women of that age was restricted to the house, the family and the bringing up of the children, whereas the public life and all the events taking place in the society were exclusively the advantage of men. This division of two spheres led also to clear and insurmountable gender boundaries. In addition to that, “the particular qualities attributed to masculinity [were] authority, rationality, force, and to femininity domesticity, innocence [and] weakness.”
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the motivation for the study, citing James Joyce's own letters, and defines the paper's structure regarding historical context and textual analysis of 'Dubliners'.
2. Historical background: This section details the Victorian division of domestic and public spheres and examines how these ideals manifested in Dublin under the heavy influence of the Catholic Church.
2.1. Gender roles in the Victorian period: This section defines gender roles as societal expectations and describes the binary division between the private female sphere and the public male sphere characteristic of the era.
2.2. Gender roles in the society of Dublin at the turn of the 20th century: This section analyzes the economic and social realities of Dublin, focusing on limited career prospects for women and the ambivalent role of religious life.
3. Gender roles in ‘ Dubliners’: This chapter bridges historical reality with the literary depictions in Joyce's stories, examining how characters reflect the poverty and limited agency of the Irish middle class.
4. Marriage in ‘Dubliners’: This chapter explores marriage as an often unromantic, economic institution, analyzing how it functions as both a source of security and a trap for the characters.
5. Sexual morality in ‘Dubliners’: This chapter discusses how Church influence led to a repression of sexuality, resulting in frustration and the reinforcement of rigid societal norms.
6. Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, noting that the characters' sense of paralysis is a universal trait that transcends specific gender boundaries.
7. Bibliography: This chapter lists the primary and secondary sources used to support the historical and literary analysis.
Keywords
James Joyce, Dubliners, gender roles, Victorian era, sexual morality, Catholic Church, Irish society, marriage, social paralysis, domestic sphere, women in literature, economic struggle, nineteenth century, 20th century, gender boundaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper examines the intersection of gender roles and sexual morality in James Joyce's 'Dubliners', analyzing how societal and religious conditions in turn-of-the-century Dublin shaped the lives and choices of his characters.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The core themes include Victorian gender ideology, the socio-economic reality of Dublin, the institution of marriage, the role of the Catholic Church, and the pervasive theme of personal paralysis.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine if the gender dynamics portrayed in Joyce's short stories accurately mirror the historical realities of life in Dublin at the turn of the 20th century.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The study utilizes a qualitative approach, combining historical research on Victorian and Irish societal structures with a literary analysis of specific short stories from the 'Dubliners' collection.
What topics are discussed in the main part?
The main part analyzes the historical background of gender roles, specific character examples from 'Dubliners' facing economic and social challenges, the pragmatic and often unfulfilling nature of marriage, and the repression of sexuality caused by religious orthodoxy.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include James Joyce, Dubliners, gender roles, sexual morality, Catholic Church, marriage, paralysis, and Irish society.
How did the Catholic Church specifically impact the sexual morality of the characters?
The Church promoted the view that sexuality should be strictly confined to marriage for procreative purposes, leading characters to repress their sexual identity and feelings, which contributed to their overall dissatisfaction with life.
What does the term 'paralysis' mean in the context of this book?
Paralysis refers to the characters' inability or unwillingness to change their circumstances or act against societal constraints, leaving them trapped in their unpleasant, often repetitive, daily lives.
How is the institution of marriage portrayed in 'Dubliners'?
Marriage is frequently depicted as a "deliberate, unromantic business" driven by the acquisition of money and social status rather than love, often resulting in entrapment or emotional distance for the participants.
- Quote paper
- Eleni Papadopoulou (Author), 2005, Gender roles and sexual morality in James Joyce's 'Dubliners', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/45213
