Alanna Thornton’s Reviews > Dubliners > Status Update

“She waited on patiently, almost cheerfully, without alarm, her memories gradually giving place to hopes and visions of the future. Her hopes and visions were so intricate that she no longer saw the white pillows on which her gaze was fixed or remembered that she was waiting for anything.”

Definitely the grimmest view of “Dubliners” so far

“Though his eyes took note of many elements of the crowd through which he passed they did so morosely. He found trivial all that was meant to charm him and did not answer the glances which invited him to be bold.”

“Rapid motion through space elates one; so does notoriety; so does the possession of money. These were three good reasons for Jimmy's excitement.”

“The fourth member of the party, however, was too excited to be genuinely happy.”

What a niche human experience

Oh that’s the saddest one yet!! <\3

“Escape! She must escape! Frank would save her. He would give her life, perhaps love, too. But she wanted to live. Why should she be unhappy? She had a right to happiness.
Frank would take her in his arms, fold her in his arms. He would save her.”

Major recurring theme of escape in the short stories

“Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger.”

“I had never spoken to her, except for a few casual words, and yet her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood.
Her image accompanied me even in places the most hostile to romance.”

“My voice had an accent of forced bravery in it and I was ashamed of my paltry stratagem.”