Literary Analysis

1177 Words3 Pages

Literary Analysis

Literature is much more then simply a compilation of words thrown down into a book that work together to make a story. Nearly every author that takes the time to write a book is looking to not only tell a story, but to put forth their own ideas and beliefs. In Dubliners, James Joyce uses the theme of escape and journey to show the conflict between the individual and society in Dublin. Although at first glance many of these themes are simply over looked, upon closer reading it is easy to see that the characters in Joyce’s novels represent Ireland as a whole. The two themes explained above are very prevalent in two stories, “An Encounter” and “The Dead”. These two themes are repeated multiple times in both these stories not as a mere coincidence, but as a way for Joyce to show his opinion on Irish culture during that period of time.

The idea of needing to escape from society is most blatantly shown in “An Encounter”. The entire plot of the story is based around two boys’ secret trip out of their local community to explore other things that Ireland has to offer. Although the boys never leave Ireland, Joyce uses them as a representation of Ireland as a whole wanting to escape their everyday boring lives. The young boys dream about living lives in the Wild West filled with adventure and danger. Neither of the boys has traveled this far from home by themselves, and they are excited with the unknown they experience. This small trip just out of their local community is in a way their own adventure in Ireland.

This same need for escape is also very prevalent in “The Dead”. Unlike in “An Encounter”, Joyce does not decide to make the characters physically leave on a journey. Instead he implies this through their dialogue and thoughts. Toward the beginning of the story, the two aunts discuss their fears that Freddy Malins is going to arrive at the party drunk (176). The sisters fear that he is going to be a nuisance, and to do not want the other guests to feel uncomfortable around him.

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