Epiphany and Paralysis in James Joyce's Works: A Presentation

Epiphany in Joyce's Works

EPIPHANY From greek epiphaneia, « manifestation, striking appearance» Belongs to the religious code and originally referred to insight through the divine Joyce intends a sudden spiritual manifestation by which a character has a silent moment of full awareness The epiphany guides a deeper insight into the truth of things Joyce uses it to show through appearance and details the essence of something and the awakeness of consciousness It refers to the moment when an event, image, or idea may produce an explosive recognition of meaning both for character and reader

Eveline's Final Decision

Eveline What is her final decision ?

• leave Dublin with Frank, a man she loves, and escape her oppressive, stagnant life, or stay behind and fulfill her sense of duty to care for her family?

. She ultimately decides to stay but why?

Significance of Eveline's Choice

Significance of Eveline's choice Paralysis between personal aspirations and obligations the pitfalls of holding onto the past when facing the future. Eveline's paralysis is the symbol of the paralysis of Dublin.

Eveline's Epiphany

• EPIPHANY She hears a street organ, and when she remembers the street organ that played on the night before her mother's death

The Boarding House Main Themes

The Boarding House Main themes: Control, power, social expectations, public opinion, marriage

Marriage in The Boarding House

MARRIAGE a form of promise and profit on one hand ( Mrs Mooney) and entrapment and loss on the other ( Mr Doran) Obligation and reparation , respecting the social standards and the public perceptions Marriage is not only made of mere feelings and love

Characters' Paralysis in The Boarding House

CHARACTERS' PARALYSIS: MRS MOONEY

• THE CHALLENGE OF A SINGLE MOTHER
• WORRIED ABOUT HER DAUGHTER REPUTATION
• SOCIAL POSITION MR DORAN
• WORRIED ABOUT HIS CAREER
• HIS EMPLOYER
• THE CHURCH
• THE SCANDAL ( if he refuses to marry the girl)

Microcosm of Dublin

"everyone knows everyone else's business" . the boarding house serves as a microcosm of Dublin. Various classes mix under its roof, but relationships are gauged and watched, class lines are constantly negotiated, and social standing must override emotions like love. The inhabitants are not free to do what they choose because unstated rules of decorum govern life in the house, just as they do in the city.

A Mother's Conflicts

A MOTHER CONFLICTS PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE:

• TO GET A PROPER PAYMENT EVEN FOR A WOMAN
• THE RECOGNITION OF ONE WOMAN'S WORK ( IN THIS CASE PERFORMANCE)
• THE CHARACTERS USE CONFLICTS IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH CONTROL AND POWER

Mrs Kearney's Fight for Gender Equality

MRS KEARNEY FIGHTS FOR THE GENDER EQUALITIES ( would her daughter be treated differently if she were a man?) PRACTICAL AND INFLEXIBLE APPROACH TO LIFE (she marries her husband not for love, but just to be married) CONCERNED WITH HER DAUGHTER'S RIGHTS AND RESPECT HER COMPLAINTS ARE MOTIVATED BY A CONCERN WITH SOCIAL STATUS AND APPEARANCE

Societal Paralysis and Mrs Kearney

PARALYSIS the conflicts show the limitations within the society. Mrs Kearney's attempts to make the promoters pay Kathleen lead to her own social isolation. Mrs. Kearney tries to confront the societal power structures (represented by the 2 businessmen) but at the end she cannot change anything. This failure emphasizes the theme of paralysis Harsh critique of the gendered and societal structures that shape the lives of Dubliners , revealing the sad realities of a world governed by power, control, and societal expectations.

The Dead Story Structure

THE DEAD The story can be divided into 3 main parts:

• Arrival of the guests and first dances
• Dance of Gabriel and Miss Ivors
• Last song/ departure and hotel scene

Gabriel's Encounters with Three Women

GABRIEL MEETS 3 WOMEN Lily , the caretaker's daughter. Her name refers to the flower used during funeral celebration ( a recall for the Death). She is pale, like the flower that is white Miss Ivors, symbol of nationalism and irish identity. She calls Gabriel « west Briton» Gretta, Gabriel's wife

Definition of West Briton

WEST BRITON The appellation comes from the fact that Ireland lies to the west of England. The highly derogatory term was referred to the inhabitants of Ireland whose allegiance was more to England than to Ireland

Gretta's Epiphany: The Lass of Aughrim

Gretta's Epiphany: the Lass of Aughrim Aughrim is the site of a historically significant defeat of the Irish by the Army of King William III on 1691 and the significant surrender of Ireland to british domination

Gabriel's Epiphany

Gabriel's Epiphany his wife is remembering the tragic death of Michael Furey she will always love Furey Furey loved Gretta in a way he cannot compete with

Symbols in The Dead

SYMBOLS WINDOW SNOW (p104 snow is general all over Ireland; p.116 «upon all living and the dead» MIRROR