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Dubliners: Escape And Paralysis

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Dubliners: Escape And Paralysis
Dubliners: Escape and Paralysis James Joyce captures the social realities of early nineteenth century Ireland in the set of short stories that comprise Dubliners. Many of the stories have parallels as Joyce overlaps themes in his effort to define the conditions in Ireland. Joyce develops the themes of paralysis and the desire to escape via the protagonists' experiences in Eveline and Little Cloud. Confronted with the opportunity to escape Dublin, Eveline is unable to board the ferry because she is paralyzed by memories of her past and home. Little Chandler is overwhelmed with a feeling of paralysis as he reflects upon Gallaher's good fortunes after escaping Ireland.

"Now she was going to go away like the others, to leave her home." In Eveline, Joyce attends to the Irish lower class as he depicts a young girl's attempt to escape Dublin. The narrator describes the circumstances of the story through Eveline's thoughts. Eveline ponders the benefits of leaving her home and the life she has in Dublin. She feels that her duties at home and at work are a little overbearing. Eveline is unhappy with the way Miss Gavan behaves toward her at work, "especially whenever there were people listening." In relation to the abuse she endures at work, Eveline believes, "in her new home, in a distant unknown country, it would not be like that." The idea of escaping fills her with hope because she desires to be appreciated. Eveline insists that she will not be treated the same way her mother was treated when she was alive. According to Eveline, "she would be married - she, Eveline. People would treat her with respect then. She would not be treated as her mother had been." Escaping Dublin and starting a new life for herself motivates Eveline to except Frank's invitation to go to Buenos Ayres.

The narrator makes it known that Eveline is very conscious of the contrast between the way things were when she was young and her life now. When her mother was still alive, Eveline insists that
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