PARALYSIS IN 'DUBLINERS'

Paralysis in James Joyce’s short story collection is not a subliminal feature. Joyce presents his main characters in each story as real and ambitious, but who appear to be paralytic protagonists. It is apparent  that Joyce’s presentation of the idea of ‘paralysis’ relates to his home country, Ireland. As the Cambridge Literature edition of ‘Dubliners’ states, “To Joyce, Dublin was also trapped by its place in history...it suffered from a kind of paralysis..”.  In Joyce’s novella ‘The Dead’, this idea is presented through a protagonist named Gabriel. Gabriel expresses his contempt for Ireland throughout the text. Joyce particularly presents this during Gabriel’s speech on Irish hospitality, where he suggests the attendee’s of the party are living in a paralytic routine. For example, Gabriel states, ‘...a new generation is growing up in our midst, a generation actuated by new ideas and new principles.’. It seems as though, during this lengthy speech, Gabriel is trying to get across that Ireland is stuck in its time, with only the act of hospitality still alive within the people. Furthermore suggesting that both himself and the attendants to the party should follow this ‘new generation’. 

Why did Joyce feel the need to present Ireland so paralytically? In the Dover Thrift Edition of the Dubliners, it is perceived that “Joyce used the term (‘paralysis’) to denote a condition of spiritual torpor caused by what he perceived to be the oppressive religiosity of Catholic culture in Ireland”. Contextually, Joyce’s period in Dublin was clouded by Catholicism. It is known that the issue on Joyce’s relationship with religion is somewhat controversial - so is it possible Joyce was craving a revolution? In this way, Joyce uses Dublin as an almost paralytic backdrop for his protagonists in each of his novella’s in ‘Dubliners’; his characters may almost be mentally revolutionised, by the paralysis of their country means they cannot move forward with their lives.

A MODERN PERSPECTIVE OF ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND

The main question I bear, when I think about the modern perspective of Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland is WHY was Lewis Carroll’s imaginative children’s book so full of different perspectives, and why were they all realised post Carroll’s time? The answer is based within the fact that the story has SO many subliminal messages that have harnessed these alternating perspectives, by alternating people. The introduction of many new theoretical ideals helped the imaginative minds of reader’s to expand. One of these important ideals was surrealism, for which Peter Ackroyd states that “...Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is the true origin...”. 

This idea is further enhanced by surrealist painter Salvador Dali. The progression of different illustrative designs for ‘The Mad Tea Party’, for which everyone is familiar, is an interesting one. Originally, illustrative artists portrayed it as being simply what it is; a tea party with a strange ‘mad’ host. This image is one that seems to be officially planted within the publics imagination - but why did surrealist painter Dali choose to illustrate this scene with a melting pocket watch and a tree growing through the middle of the table? This very surreal artistry almost displays the presentation of the unconscious expressing itself. 

Furthermore, Dali’s theoretical artistic approach - a more appropriate term, I believe, to illustration -  brings forward the suggestion of the influence of narcotics as a theme in Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland. The dream like atmosphere that is presented continually throughout the story provides more mature minds to peer upon the idea that this is a drug experience that Alice is feeling. Kate Connell suggests that “The idea of eating a mushroom or drinking from a bottle that causes one to feel altered in some way parallels a drug experience as well.” - this theory can be linked to Dali’s illustration of ‘The Mad Tea Party’ in which he depicts time as ‘melting away’, which could definitely relate to the idea of the loss of awareness of time through the introduction of drugs into the system. 

DEAR KATHERINE

The day was dazzling; a beautiful sun loomed over the bright blue. A beautiful young lady glanced at the morning sky, her eyes gleaming. Tears rolled down her face; delicately, almost in slow motion. Her blonde hair was tucked behind her in a bow and was moving slightly in the gentle breeze. Lightly in her hand, she held a letter. She rose it to her view, grasping it with her pale fingers. It read: 

My Dear Daughter, 

I am so sorry you had to be brought into the world you way you were. But please forgive me. I am a troubled lady, and not fit to be a mother; but I love you entirely, and I think of you every day. You were such a beautiful baby, and I will never forget those charming blue eyes. Try and forgive me, I hope you understand one day. 

Love, Ana. 

Her eyebrows were wrinkled, her mouth slightly parted. She got up off the step outside of her new home, and walked inside. For her, everything felt in slow motion, she couldn’t comprehend anything. She was now a governess, a charming, mindful young soul who had always been so positive. Her new darling caught her eye. This was a beautiful day for her, but it was clouded. She was so beautiful, similar looking to herself. 

“Katherine!” cried the young girl, with pretty hair that glistened when the sun embraced it. She said no more, but grabbed Katherine’s hand and guided her up the stairwell. Katherine glanced at Mrs Grose, and smiled softly as she tucked her letter into her dress and tried to wipe away the tears that stained her cheeks. 

Young Flora ran ahead of Katherine, excitedly. Katherine did not want to rush, for fear it would look unprofessional; so she walked speedily and skipped every now and again with laughter at the young lady running ahead of her. It was a beautiful estate. Handsomely lit, and she could not help but admire the morning sun - she almost felt like being inside was sinful on a day like today, and longed to take the young lady out onto the lake to read a novella. 

“Now close your eyes, you mustn’t look!” said Flora, covering Katherine’s eyes with a bright smile. They were now both outside a small door at the end of the corridor, it was less well lit, but still beautiful in its decor. 

“Is this to be my room Flora?” asked Katherine, sparkling down at the young child. 

“Shhh! Just close your eyes and you’ll find out” smiled Flora, as she took the silk scarf from around her neck and tied it around Katherine's eyes. Once Katherine was  free of light, Flora opened the door and rushed into the room. Katherine felt for the door frame, guiding herself in. Through the silk scarf, she could see the room was filled with light; she could hear Flora speaking to someone, laughing and gossiping. 

“Is someone with you Flora?” Katherine said, smiling happily, thinking it was one of the servants to greet her. She felt Flora, behind her, releasing her from the silk scarf. The room was beautiful; a bay window lit up the whole room, the bed look superbly opulent; but Katherine was confused. She span in a circle quickly observing every corner - but she could see no one. She was confused, frazzled. 

“Flora, was there someone with you? I heard voices” she looked at the young girl with a slight frown. Flora smiled sweetly and her eyes drifted from Katherine to her background. 

“Look at these flowers I made you. Myself and the servants got up early and picked them from the garden ourselves”. Behind Flora was a vase filled with beautiful, vibrant flowers. Katherine could not help but beam with wonder and happiness that someone took the effort to do this for her.
“And don’t worry about the voices Katherine.” said Flora with a smile, “Ana is happy to see you”. 

Introduction

This is going to be a rather short post. This blog is just a place I can bring and display all my literature (and language!) works that I have done either in my spare time or for part of my degree modules. I am currently a year 1 student studying English Language and Literature. 

I hope I don't bore you too quickly....

Aimee