Guide Note: Dubliners by James Joyce is a collection of 15 short stories. The stories reflect the Irish nationalism of the time and the search for national identity. One of the main themes of the stories is epiphany which is contrasted against paralysis. The characters struggle against restrictive and repetitive routines that lead to loneliness and unrequited love, but the characters are not able to escape from their mundane lives. The collection begins with youth oriented stories and continues as the characters age until the final story "The Dead". Many of the characters also appear in Joyce's novel Ulysses.
Fast Facts:
- Published in 1914
- Takes place during the early 20th century
- Original publisher was Grant Richards Ltd. in London
- Realistic fiction genre
- Set in and around Dublin
- Originally submitted to publisher in 1905
- Publication delayed due sexual, political, and social issues content
