ninasilverlee

    The boarding house, By James Joyce(1914) Rating: 8.2/10 There still exists an invisible social hierarchy that demarcates the level of individuals. Borderlines between each echelon are undefiable because they are preserved in an intangible and verbal way. It almost seems like modern citizens are solely focused on elevating class throughout their lives. Generally, it is considered successful when someone with a proletariat job marries another with a bourgeoisie job. Similarly, Ms.Mooney was affirmative that her daughter would have a happy life if she were committed to Mr.Doran.  In this flow, a sarcastic view towards the materialistic society stood out as a theme. Polly's innocent love was rather a cover for Ms.Mooney's unachieved goal of marrying "up." Mental paralysis of the Dubliners perhaps was another problem that Joyce was experiencing.  <The boarding house> approached as a relatable yet bittersweet story. Although it is unrightful to judge people with ...

   Eveline, By James Joyce(1904) Rating: 8.8/10      The contrast between darkness and brightness stood out the most throughout James Joyce's Dubliners series. Again, it was noticeable when the porthole, a magical portal where Eveline could escape from the brutally appalling reality, was described bright as in an 'illumined' place. Eveline's family background is bizarrely interchangeable with that of James Joyce's to call it a coincidence. Experiencing the loss of a mother in his 20s, James Joyce was devastated to live on with his hopeless father. Perhaps that 'illumined' porthole reflected Joyce's mental state, groping for the slightest thread that keeps him connected to his sanity.      Eveline lost her only chance of joining the bright side and seizing freedom by choosing not to leave Dublin with Frank. She was choking under the responsibility of her family, the binding promise she had made with her mom. It was merely oppression rather than the...