James Joyce Research Paper

Words: 574
Pages: 3

James Joyce’s writing reflects his life in Dublin. Many of the characters in his short stories reflect some of his own problems and trials throughout his life. In his short story collection Dubliners most of the characters want to leave Dublin, but cannot for one reason or another. The characters in James Joyce’s short stories show the troubles that he has had when he tries to leave Dublin.
The majority of the Characters in Dubliners, regardless of social status all wanted the same object. They wanted to leave Dublin. Whether it was someone in the Aristocracy like Gabriel from The Dead or a lower class worker like Gallaher in A Little Cloud they all dreamed of a day that they could escape Dublin. There was no group of people in any of Joyce's short stories that did not want to leave the city they were residing in. Even the little boy who narrates The encounter wants to leave Dublin even though his life is was not in any way miserable or lonely. But for every person that wanted to leave there was a convincing argument for them to stay.
…show more content…
While Gabriel had enough money to leave and live comfortably anywhere else he had family in Dublin that he needed to care for as they would die soon. The vast majority of the characters that wanted to leave could not because they lacked enough funds to leave the capital of Southern Ireland. People like Gallaher already had a life in Ireland with friends and family. He was torn because he wanted to leave, but did not want to leave behind all of Dublin. The little boy who narrates The Encounter wanted to leave Ireland but felt that traveling the world would be too distracting for