Opening remark
Dubliners is a study on human behaviour, human values and communication. The book describes and brings to life the city of Dublin, the hometown of James Joyce, at the beginning of the twentieth century. The collection is a mix of social realism and literary imagination. Each of the 15 stories is set against a background of real names, streets, shops, pubs and icons. It also comes alive through the biographical references to Joyce’s life. That is the reason why I decided to place the biography of James Joyce before my analysis in this paper.
I chose the story The Dead because it seems to stand out of the short- story collection Dubliners. The Dead had not been composed when Joyce divulged that the course of the collection must be seen under the loose- knit general plan of a human lifecycle: childhood, adolescence, maturity and public life. The story also stands out of the collection because of the story’s length, tone and positioning in the book. It was the last story he wrote for Dubliners in 1906/ 07, when he had already left Ireland. Before that, it was obvious that Joyce was very sceptical of the Irish Renaissance and the Irish literary revival, although the revival´s outstanding poet, W. B. Yeats, influenced Joyce’s writing in the first years. He felt Ireland’s future lays within the European intellectual and cultural community. Joyce became increasingly impatient with Ireland’s parochialism and turned toward Europe, he and his wife Nora moved to the Continent. Now a change of attitude towards Ireland and Dublin, manifested in the story The Dead, can be observed. He wrote his brother Stanislaus in a letter the whole collection of Dubliners would be incomplete without this new feelings toward his hometown. The author’s view is not only desperate and without prospect, “it has softened” [Joyce, 1991; p. 47]. The stories in Dubliners can be read on two levels. [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I Opening remark
- II Introduction
- 1. About the author James Joyce
- 2. The collection of short stories Dubliners
- 3. History and summary of The Dead
- III Analysis
- 1. General assumptions on The Dead and the main character Gabriel Conroy
- 2. Politics and religion in The Dead
- 3. The author's use of epiphany
- 4. Linguistic level of The Dead
- IV Concluding remark
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The main objective of this paper is to analyze James Joyce's short story "The Dead," focusing on its relationship to the broader collection Dubliners and Joyce's biography. The analysis will explore how the story reflects Joyce's evolving perspective on Ireland, its politics, and its religious landscape.
- Joyce's evolving relationship with Ireland and Dublin
- The role of politics and religion in shaping Irish society
- Joyce's use of epiphany as a literary device
- The linguistic style and symbolism in "The Dead"
- Connections between the characters in "The Dead" and Joyce's life
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
I Opening remark: This introductory section sets the stage for the analysis of James Joyce's "The Dead," situating the story within the context of Dubliners. It highlights the story's unique position within the collection, emphasizing its length, tone, and the shift in Joyce's attitude towards Ireland following his departure. The opening remarks also introduce the two levels of interpretation present in Dubliners: a straightforward realistic portrayal of everyday life and a symbolic exploration of universal human experiences. The author emphasizes Gabriel Conroy's significance as a character representative of both levels, justifying the multifaceted analytic approach taken in the paper. The introduction concludes by outlining the key analytical points to be addressed: the biographical connections between Joyce and Gabriel Conroy; the criticism of politics and religion in early 20th century Ireland; and the examination of Joyce's linguistic style and the use of epiphany.
II Introduction: This chapter provides background information essential to understanding "The Dead." It begins with a biographical sketch of James Joyce, covering his family life, education, and early influences. It highlights the impact of his Jesuit education and his father's anti-clerical views on his developing perspective. The chapter discusses Joyce's move to Paris and later to Trieste, emphasizing his self-imposed exile and its significance in shaping his writing. It places "The Dead" within the context of Dubliners and explains the difficulties Joyce faced in publishing the collection due to its frank depiction of Irish society and its satirical elements. The section also contextualizes Dubliners within the turbulent political climate of Ireland at the time.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
James Joyce, Dubliners, "The Dead," Gabriel Conroy, epiphany, Irish literature, Irish nationalism, religion, politics, symbolism, realism, biography.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of James Joyce's "The Dead"
What is the overall objective of this analysis?
The main goal is to analyze James Joyce's short story "The Dead," focusing on its connection to the Dubliners collection and Joyce's biography. The analysis explores how the story reflects Joyce's evolving views on Ireland, its politics, and religious landscape.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include Joyce's evolving relationship with Ireland and Dublin; the influence of politics and religion on Irish society; Joyce's use of epiphany as a literary device; the linguistic style and symbolism in "The Dead"; and the connections between characters in "The Dead" and Joyce's life.
What aspects of James Joyce's biography are relevant to the analysis?
The analysis considers Joyce's family life, education (including his Jesuit education and his father's anti-clerical views), his move to Paris and Trieste (his self-imposed exile), and the impact of these experiences on his writing and perspective on Ireland.
How is "The Dead" situated within the context of Dubliners?
The analysis highlights "The Dead"'s unique position within the Dubliners collection, emphasizing its length, tone, and the shift in Joyce's attitude towards Ireland after his departure. It also examines the dual levels of interpretation in Dubliners: realistic portrayal and symbolic exploration of universal human experiences, with Gabriel Conroy representing both.
What is the significance of Gabriel Conroy in the analysis?
Gabriel Conroy is a central figure, viewed as representative of both the realistic and symbolic levels present in Dubliners. His character's connection to Joyce's biography and his experiences are explored to provide a multifaceted understanding of the story.
What literary techniques are discussed in the analysis?
The analysis examines Joyce's use of epiphany as a literary device, his linguistic style, and the symbolism employed in "The Dead." The realistic and symbolic elements of his writing are contrasted and interpreted.
What is the role of politics and religion in the analysis of "The Dead"?
The analysis explores how politics and religion shaped Irish society in the early 20th century and how these elements are reflected in Joyce's criticism and portrayal in "The Dead".
What is covered in the different chapters of the analysis?
The analysis is structured into an opening remark setting the stage, an introduction providing biographical and contextual background on Joyce and Dubliners, a main analysis section exploring the key themes, and a concluding remark. Chapter summaries provide a detailed overview of each section's content.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include James Joyce, Dubliners, "The Dead," Gabriel Conroy, epiphany, Irish literature, Irish nationalism, religion, politics, symbolism, realism, and biography.
- Quote paper
- Thorsten Klein (Author), 2000, An analysis of the short story 'The Dead' by James Joyce, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/62417