Help! I Have a Major Brain Fart!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:05pm

First of all, let me say that I suck at writing essays. I read three stories by James Joyce in Dubliners: The Sisters, Araby, and Eveline. Now I have to answer, "How is his life reflected in his short stories?"

The only thing I can think of so far is that he wanted to show the harsh realities of life in Dublin...I've done searches online and reread texts in my lit book on his background. I cannot find any reflections of his own life in those short stories, only life in Dublin in general.

In "The Sisters," a young boy faces the reality of death for the first time in his life, when a close friend (a priest) passes away. In "Eveline," a young woman must choose between taking care of life at home with her alcoholic father or a life with her lover. And in "Araby," a young man is infatuated with a neighbor, but he fails to buy her anything at a bazaar, when he made a promise to her that he would.

I need a push in the right direction! I don't know where to start and everything is just a mess now. Thanks!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:15pm

I've just read these three stories because I went to Ireland in May. Think about the social aspects of the stories. What are their relgiious viewpoints (hint: priest)? What does that mean in regards to the fact that there has been a struggle in Ireland between Catholics & Protestants. What is family life like in the stories? Is it the Leave it to Beaver mother, father and two perfect children family?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 4:11pm

Thanks. See, we had to pick three of the stories, and those are the three I chose; we didn't have to read the whole book.

According to my textbook, the uncle is like Joyce's own father in "Araby." And the girl was real. And so was the bazaar. But my book also says, "...but it is astonishing how little all this matters. What does matter is the power to order and choose out of the welter of the past. Only that power turns the past to rich account." How can I look deeper into this?

[BwayLover]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 4:18pm

Don't know if this helps... But I got an A+ for a paper I wrote about Araby, and I'll happily email it to you if you want.
PM me -I'll be online for a while.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 7:35pm

I finished the essay! I don't know if it's good, but who cares, I am glad I finished. Thank you for your help. Now two more to go...that's what I get for procrastination.