Zahraa’s Reviews > Dubliners > Status Update

Grace:

An alcohol-related incident leads to a discussion about “religion” which lacked any sort of depth or meaning, just pure interest in the superficial formalities of it.

Ivy day in the committee room:

An interesting political setting in a dark room on a rainy day between canvassers shows the contrast between ideology and personal gain in politics.
Ireland struggle for independence will always be a fascinating topic to me!

*there was a hint of dark comedy which I think was a spot on.

Ivy day in the committee room:

An interesting political setting in a dark room on a rainy day between some canvassers shows the evident contrast between ideology and personal gain in politics. The history of Ireland struggle for independence will always be admirable to me.

A Painful Case:

Joyce sets the tone for this story from the very start which is kinda unusual considering his other work.
The core theme of this story is the lack of moderation/harmony and its consequences. Empathy and objectivity both work together to help us as a human beings to understand ourselves and others better.
*As uncle Iroh once said “pride is not the opposite of shame but its source”

Clay: “Everyone was so fond of Maria”

Hallows Eve and everything was merry, yet you can sense the darkness looming over these characters impending doom :(

I can’t stop falling in love with Joyce’s writing style!!!

Counterparts: disturbing and heartbreaking.

I just love these sudden twists in Joyce’s stories and he’s just so good at it, but there’s something interestingly different about this one. He -excessively- used the word “thirst” as a literary device to allude to the serious and dangerous issues/nature of the main character.

A little cloud: “A cloud of smoke in which he had taken refuge”

Melancholic and ethereal short story of incessantly hiding behind little clouds to protect oneself against the wistful sadness that comes with living an unfulfilling life.

Easily one of my favourites too!!!

The Boarding house:
Very different in tone and style from the other stories.

Two Gallants:
Once more I have a bit of an issue with the title.
This short story has a vivid imagery that serves as the perfect metaphor of the inner state of these two characters as they wander through life with no real purpose or intention to experience anything real.

After The Race:
“Rapid motion through space elates one; so does notoriety; so does the possession of money”
This short story took an interesting turn from the previous ones in exploring the influence of the sociocultural factors on the perception and behaviour of certain individuals in a multicultural social setting.