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James Joyce Analysis

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An analysis of the Role of Family Disappointment in Joyce’s Dubliners James Joyce, an Irish modernist writer and influential author in the twentieth century, wrote the story collection named “Dubliners”. This collection consisted of fifteen short stories and carried a naturalist style. In “Dubliners”, Joyce rarely uses metaphors, relying on simplicity and attention to detail to create an authentic setting. Joyce often carried hidden similarities throughout each of his novels and poetry. This is seen true within Joyce’s collection, “Dubliners”. A close analysis of “Dubliners” reveals an excellent example of the role of family disappointment as shown in each of the short stories; “Araby”, “Eveline”, and “The Dead”. A direct example or claim of family disappointment can clearly be seen within each of these three short stories. Theses examples will be laid out and explained throughout this essay. Each example having varying circumstance, and outcome. Displayed from the point of view of the characters, to be taken inside their heads, and be shown a different aspect of what family disappointment means to the characters. The theme of disappointment in “Dubliners” is all about the painful experience. Ambiguity so to speak, the misconception of life being grand, only to face the troubles of reality. The characters determine that their own families don’t always have their best interest at heart, that their wives were deceitful, and that the world of business can be bitter, acquisitive, and deceptive. The theme of disappointment is shown upon the narrators as an intense hatred for themselves in moments, when we would expect a shock, broken-heartedness, or animosity. In the story “Araby” the young unnamed boy is affected by the role of family disappointment in his personal life. The narrators’ uncle plays the role of this family disappointment. This

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