A Message of Awareness :: Essays Papers

A Message of Aw arnessJames Joyces book Dubliners, is composed of several intriguing short stories. Joyces briny emphasis is to send a wake up call to the people of Dublin about the appalling conditions of Ireland. In a letter to his publisher Joyce tells him that he seriously believes that the publisher will retard the course of civilization in Ireland by preventing the Irish people from having one good look at themselves in my nicely polished looking-glass (qtd. in Beja 33). Joyce proves his assertion through his use of characters and situations in the short stories The Boarding House, A Little Cloud, and The Dead. In addition, autonomy and responsibility play a major role of how the characters act and react to certain situations that connect to the hard times of Ireland. In Dubliners, characters often face situations that are portrayed as clear-cut and dark.In The Boarding House, Mrs. Mooneys actions and interactions are primarily portrayed as being manipulative. She is a dark soul and Joyce uses examples to support this. Joyce describes Mrs. Mooney as a person that is after part and is all business. Mrs. Mooneys characteristics imply that she is someone to fear. In addition, Mrs. Mooneys boarding house is run with much order. Joyce states that Mrs. Mooney governed her house cunningly and firmly, knew when to give credit, when to be stern and when to let things pass, which a viewer can acknowledge that Mrs. Mooney is a dark and fierce women when it comes down to taking actions on others (56). Furthermore, Mrs. Mooney has such a stern and superior control over the tenants that Joyce states that the young men spoke of her as The madam, which means a lady of respect (57). They know that Mrs. Mooney is one lady to be feared.In The Boarding House, Mr. Dorans actions with Polly caused him to be fearful of Mrs. Mooney. Joyce explains how Mr. Dorans feelings about receiving consequences from Mrs. Mooney are dark. Joyce exaggerates the depth of Mr. Dorans nervou sness towards receiving his sanctions were so fierce that he entangle his heart leap in his throat (61). Mr. Dorans actions are so fearful that he acts as if he is being tried for murder. Mr. Dorans fears of the consequences are so dark that He longed to ascend through the roof of the Boarding House and fly away to another country where he would never hear once again of his trouble.