The Dublinese are peripheral types in the sense that they live on the periphery of life. In no story do spectacular, mythological-type events occur. However, in each of them, the respective protagonist is faced with a change (whether he wants it or not) or desires a change in his life. Small, insignificant, external events ignite the agonies and concerns of the characters, expose them and disturb them, waiting for much but remaining prisoners of routine. Each of them reacts differently, but that recurring motif is that of futility and missed opportunities. They are realistic types attached to their lives, who attempt small rebellions that, however, do not lead where they desire. Dublin reigns in the short psychographies of Joyce, casting the shadows and darkness of its idiosyncratic and enigmatic characters, functioning as a suitable and atmospheric background. Bravo Mr. Joyce, and I had taken you with a bad eye.
Community Reviews
Nevertheless, I must state that it has been a revelation to uncover that Joyce's early work is so remarkably accessible. I found these stories - each and every one of them offering fleeting glimpses of Dubliners at a specific moment of profound insight and self-realization in their lives - utterly captivating. They are replete with memorable characters, exquisitely beautiful language, and a powerful sense of both place and time.
In accordance with the fact that the stories merely provide a brief peek into the lives of the characters, there is little in the way of a dramatic resolution. Instead, readers are left to ponder what might have transpired for the character next, before promptly moving on to another story and another character.
My experience of this work was significantly enhanced by listening to the audiobook narrated by the Irish actor Jim Norton. He is, without a doubt, one of the finest narrators I have ever had the pleasure of hearing, and he truly breathed life into the characters. Norton has also narrated Ulysses, and I find myself no longer daunted by that particular work. In fact, I am now eagerly looking forward to listening to it.
The cult around the figure of Joyce is, in my opinion, pointless. Just look at how any review or sharing of a quote from him, no matter how mediocre, is bombarded with "strange" likes: clearly, readers feel the need to give their approval when reading an author considered a genius. Obviously, there is still a lot of prejudice in the literary world where "good taste", "good literature", and "good writers" (especially male ones) receive a lot of attention while others - often better - remain in the shadows, unnecessarily.
Joyce is, I admit, one of those writers I turn to more often than I should in the hope of changing my opinion about his work, but with no great results: I don't identify with the style or form that I don't consider, at all, perfect (whereas, with the refinement with which it is worked by Virginia Woolf, for example, I fully identify). I also don't agree that Joyce is the great representative of a current that is much more evident, and of much greater complexity, in the work of Faulkner, among others.
That being said, this wasn't my first reading of Dubliners - I felt like rereading it when I realized how publishers are capitalizing on the reissue of the story The Dead, the last in this collection - but the feeling this book left me with the first time I read it, many years ago (in fact, I had zero memory of the stories, only the impression of reading them remained), persists: the short story format doesn't allow Joyce to work satisfactorily on the characterization of characters or the message of his stories which are (almost) all too abrupt and very obscure, implying a cultural and political knowledge of early 20th-century Ireland for which the Water Clock edition, as usual, contributes nothing. Apart from one or two more memorable stories, they are all banal, with characters who are too young, too confused, or too drunk. Demonstrations of violence against the most vulnerable are frequent and the male characters are all arrogant, misogynistic, and selfish. The female characters range from meek to saintly... At least there's something to work with. The repeated allusions to politics and religion are boring and only add to the disappointment I felt when rereading these stories.
After all, Dubliners is forgettable and at least tolerable - safeguarding everyone's taste which will make of it what they well understand.
I was trying to gain courage for Joyce's trilogy, but after this it wasn't courage I gained, it was (more) aversion. Maybe, maybe I won't give up yet... I'm too masochistic when it comes to reading.
As for the individual stories:
As irmãs ⭐⭐⭐
Um encontro ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Arábia ⭐⭐
Eveline ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Depois da corrida ⭐⭐⭐
Dois galãs ⭐⭐⭐
Uma pequena nuvem ⭐⭐⭐
A desforra ⭐⭐
A terra ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Um caso lastimoso ⭐⭐
Dia da Hera na sala do Comité ⭐⭐
A mãe ⭐⭐
A Graça ⭐⭐
Os mortos ⭐⭐
Dubliners is a collection of fifteen short stories by James Joyce, first published in 1914. It offers a naturalistic portrayal of Irish middle-class life in and around Dublin in the early 20th century.
In his stories, Joyce combines heterogeneous elements. He expresses poetic mysticism in a naturalistic way, paying attention to sound and melody for illustration. His works are filled with humor, irony, and references to myths and holy books. If the reader can grasp all these mysteries, they will be delighted. Joyce's particular view of language, with words as the cells of the story's body, is profound and original. Critics are still uncovering the vague layers of his stories.
The stories in Dubliners cover a wide range of themes, including Irish history, human nature, death, love, life, and fear. Each story presents a unique perspective on the lives of the characters. For example, in The Sisters, a young boy deals with the death of a priest. In Araby, a boy's attempt to buy a gift for a girl he loves ends in disappointment.
Joyce's innovation in language is remarkable. He not only brings ancient words to life but also creates new words in his works. Sometimes, these words have more than a hundred letters or are a combination of several words, showing a multiple sense. According to Joyce, the world is in a bad state, with lowly joys, poverty, and depravity threatening human life.
Overall, Dubliners is a literary masterpiece that showcases Joyce's extraordinary talent. It is a collection of stories that will stay with the reader long after they have finished reading.
As I can't think of anything to tell you that is even minimally up to the level of the work, and although this has never stopped me before, I have decided that the best thing will be to transcribe here the almost ten-page prologue by Vargas Llosa that accompanies my edition. (To facilitate your reading, I have taken the liberty of eliminating the pedantic, incomprehensible, exaggerated, wrong parts and, of course, everything that I have judged superfluous):
\\n «bla, bla, bla… The overwhelming importance of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake, literary experiments that revolutionized modern narrative, sometimes makes us forget that that book of short stories, of a more traditional make-up and, at least in appearance, tributary to a naturalistic realism that was already somewhat archaic by the time it was published (1914), is not a minor, learning book, but the first masterpiece that Joyce wrote… bla bla bla» \\n
P.S. Naturally, this is nothing more than a clumsy joke. The prologue by Llosa, also included in his book “The Truth of Lies”, is really good. It showcases Llosa's deep understanding and appreciation of Joyce's work. He delves into the significance of Joyce's early work, highlighting its importance in the context of literary history. Llosa's writing is engaging and thought-provoking, making the prologue a valuable addition to any edition of Joyce's work.
I wasn't as captivated by these stories as I used to be. Some of them seemed rather dull and uninteresting, leaving me with a distinct Wednesday-Thursday-Friday sort of feeling this time around. I'm not sure if it's because of the times we live in, or if it's something about me, or maybe even him. It's not you, Jimmy. It must be me.
There was a sense of comfort in revisiting these stories, but also a tinge of shame that the homecoming wasn't as joyous as I had anticipated.
"The Dead" still remains at the top of the list with a perfect 10/10, while the others followed along. My current self didn't quite see eye to eye with my 25-year-old self on the stories that I once loved.
However, I do vividly recall the sheer pleasure and enjoyment I experienced when I read them for the first time. And for that alone, I give him a place near the top of the heap.
It's interesting how our perspectives can change over time, and yet, there are still those moments of connection and nostalgia that bring us back to the past.
This book consists of a series of vignettes, snapshots, and sketches. It’s the perfect choice for those who wish to have a brief read before turning out the light. However, all the stories carry a tinge of sadness and the harsh reality of the years preceding World War I, so your dreams might not be as sweet as you expect. There are fifteen stories in total, but I will focus on just three. WARNING: There are spoilers.
I absolutely adored THE BOARDING HOUSE. This story delves into the life of the boarding house owner, Mrs. Mooney, and her daughter Polly. Polly begins a dalliance with one of the boarders, the thirty-five-year-old Mr. Doran, who has a fairly good job and is considered a decent catch. As Joyce so delicately phrases it, Madam will handle matters of emotion ‘like a cleaver to meat’, especially when her daughter’s honor is at stake. No man would be permitted to abuse her hospitality and get away with it under her own roof. Just like Polly, who is now sullied, Mr. Doran stands to lose everything.
ARABY is one of my favorites. It tells the story of a boy who falls in love with the girl across the street, the sister of a friend. He becomes completely obsessed with her, and she fills his thoughts every moment, whether at school or at home. He sits by the parlor window, staring at her door across the street. Love can be painful, and this story is relevant to all of us at that age when we become smitten as boys and girls. Puppy love. Eventually, the girl speaks to him under the lamp light. He notices every tiny detail about her. Joyce vividly describes the light on her body and her petticoat. She tells him that she would love to go to the Araby market on Saturday, but she has to attend a church meeting. Thrilled, the boy tells her that he is going and will bring her something back. He now has a mission and a reason to get closer to her. He counts the hours until he can go after obtaining permission from his aunt and a promise of money from his uncle. Frustratingly, his uncle comes home late that Saturday evening and has forgotten about his promise. His aunt persuades him to give the boy the money and let him go. Joyce beautifully describes the lonely train journey to the bazaar. He has been given a florin (two shillings, which is approximately twenty-five cents in today’s money) and spends most of it on the train fare and a shilling to get in. Once inside, most of the stalls are already closed. Deflated, he stares at a stall with jars and other things, and the girl who he’d heard talking with two men asks him if he wants to buy something. He tells her ‘no’. Most of his money is now gone. He notices that the accents of the girl and the two men are English. Why? It just is, and it makes the whole experience all the more real. He storms out, feeling angry with himself for what he realizes is a fool’s errand, for his stupidity and pride – one of those coming-of-age moments in a young man’s life.
Joyce has the remarkable ability to make the complex appear simple. He doesn’t explain everything and leaves some things as a mystery. Why does he mention that they live in a house where a priest had died? Why does the boy live with his uncle and aunt? Where are his mother and father? We must assume they are dead. That’s just how things are in the boy’s life. And that’s precisely how the best writing should be – with things left unexplained.
These stories are like beautifully prepared simple meals. Every bite, every word, is delicious. Of course, simple meals aren’t always as simple as they seem. Often, the preparation is complex, resulting in an exquisite and memorable taste.
THE DEAD is regarded as one of Joyce’s masterpieces, and John Huston filmed it magnificently, showcasing his own genius. The main character, Gabriel, takes his wife to a Christmas celebration at the house of his two aunts, with many people in attendance. Later that night, he takes his wife home by carriage in the snow, and all the while, he feels his love for her, as he had throughout the evening, and looks forward to making love to her at their hotel room. Once there, and after chatting with her, he realizes that she is distraught. He learns of a previous love she had for a boy she knew when she was young and who had died, or willed himself to die when she left to live in another town. Gabriel’s own sadness and crushed spirit are palpable as, with tears in his eyes, he looks out into the gently falling snow that must be covering his wife’s sweetheart’s grave and spreading across all of Ireland. The last paragraphs are said to be some of the greatest writing in English literature. John Huston’s excellent film can be viewed on Youtube.
On reflecting back on The Dubliners, I find myself asking: are these stories and Joyce’s writing so powerful that they could potentially change the way you think? Yes, I believe so. I know for sure that I will read them again and again. The more I explore and delve into them, the more I discover. It’s not really so much about the dreary lives of the people Joyce writes about, but rather about the writing itself, which has the ability to conjure up a deep and profound emotional experience.
Dubliners, penned by James Joyce, offers a brutally honest and unadorned portrayal of life in Dublin during the 1900s. This collection of 15 stories delves into the lives of people from all social strata. It shines a light on their diverse hardships, ranging from the grip of poverty and the vice of inebriation to the simmering tensions between Catholics and Protestants, as well as the vices of immorality and infidelity. Joyce is a virtuoso when it comes to setting the scene. He deftly uses this skill to make the city of Dublin come alive vividly in each and every story. Moreover, he is highly proficient in creating rich, colorful, and flawed characters who exude their 'Irishness' in numerous ways. Among the stories, I derived the greatest pleasure from “Araby”, “Two Gallants”, “The Boarding House”, “A Painful Case” and “Grace”. These tales beautifully showcase the imperfect, human side of the Dubliners as they navigate the unpredictable twists and turns of life. However, I am somewhat less enamored with the final story, “The Dead”. It drones on for an extended period, only to reach an anticlimactic conclusion. Overall, I would wholeheartedly recommend Dubliners to anyone. Without a shadow of a doubt, this book is an integral part of the Irish literary canon, crafted by arguably the most influential Irish writer of the 20th century.
First of all, there will be a warning for those who will read the book for the first time. In the preface of "Communication" by Murat Belge, there is a certain amount of spoiler from the book. The stories are explained one by one at the beginning of the book. Therefore, I think that after reading the stories, they can be read one by one simultaneously, which will also increase the pleasure of reading.
The book, as it is written on the back cover, tells "the stories of those who want to escape and those who cannot escape." But this can be expanded a little. Here, it is not only about having to try to escape from a certain place or a certain situation. Along with these, it is also possible to find the questions of "escaping from fate", "escaping from oneself" and even "was another life possible" in the subtext.
"Eveline", "Pension", "A Little Cloud", "A Painful Case" and "The Dead" were my favorite stories. I even read these five stories twice. In my opinion, the two weakest stories in the book were "After the Race" and "Soil". I don't think these two stories are as rich as the other stories. Therefore, it is difficult for me to say that I was impressed.
I first recommend this book to those who will meet Joyce for the first time. Especially if it is read before "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man", I predict that it will increase the pleasure of reading. I started reading from "Ulysses" and went backwards, but actually it would have been better to start from "Dubliners" unfortunately.