James Joyce

3 Pages 713 Words

When analyzing James Joyce’s writing it becomes apparent that the reader is confronting nothing short of perfection. His attention to detail as well as his ability to bring the reader along with him earns Joyce a rank amongst the masters. While many writers simple write, Joyce dances upon greatness supported by the beautifully sung lyrics of his voice. Amongst many other techniques, Joyce uses the terms “paralysis”, “epiphany” and “epiclesis” to draw readers into his world; the world of the people of Dublin. In his book Dubliners, Joyce writes to share with the rest of the world how he views this city and it’s citizens.
It is easy to see that Joyce believed himself to be an artist or an ambassador whose responsibility it is to show the life of the people of his home: Dublin, Ireland. In Morris Beja’s book, James Joyce: A Literary Life, Beja recalls a letter from Joyce to Constantine P. Curran in which Joyce says, “I call the series Dubliners to betray the soul of that hemiplagia or paralysis which many consider a city.” (32) In Joyce’s book Dubliners Joyce captures the essence of the citizens of Dublin and in turn writes about their paralysis. The term “paralysis” can be defined as the state of being trapped or unable to change. Joyce tells the stories of many Dubliners who are bound by their own ideas of religion and what is right. They are stuck in their religion as well as their opposition to change. Joyce believes that the people of Dublin are caught in a vicious and self-destructive cycle. An example of this is the character Mr. Farrington in the story Counterparts. Continuously w!
orrying about money and how he is going to feed his family, Mr. Farrington consoles his troubles by spending the little money that he does have at the pub. He returns home only to find that his wife is, as usual, at church and that his son let the fire go out. Mr. Farrington beats his son for this minor inciden...