Moral Paralysis Of Dubliners

James Joyce is one of the most influential writers in the 20th century. His early work Dubliners has a more traditional style and easy for readers to understand and accept. In a letter to the publisher, Joyce made it clear that his aim of writing this novel was to expose the moral paralysis Dubliners, thus moral paralysis has undisputedly become the theme of Dubliners.1. Center of Paralysis——Dublin.In Joyce's time, Ireland was still in the rule of the British government, and the autonomous movement of Ireland which rose in 19th century didn't develop smoothly, and at the same time Irish economy was recessionary. In the confusion of the political and economic situation, Irish society was full of pessimistic sentiment.Although Joyce had been leading a life in exile in Europe since the 1904, but all his works have a Dublin background. The nostalgic feeling has made Joyce a successful litterateur, and also was his initial impetus to write Dubliners. But for Dublin boring environment, Joyce didn't modify or even exaggerate a little bit in the novel. Under the influence of this environment,Dubliners got in paralysis step by step and it is difficult to get salvation.2. Protagonist of Paralysis——Dubliners.In Dublin's stagnant, suffocating environment, the life of Dubliners was totally paralyzed. From childhood to teen years and then to adulthood, from the initial life to the end, there were only despair and death. Paralysis was replete with every corner of Dublin. In Dubliners, the religion no longer played the role of salvation but brought people to a more difficult situation. Dubliners had lost their belief, but could not escape from the shackles of religion, and got themselves into a completely hopeless situation. After Parnell's death, some politicians took the opportunity to buck for profits. Autonomy Movement lost its initial meaning and gradually evolved into a purely political struggle. The cultural life of Ireland was chaotic, in which people were unable to find happiness or comfort; Dubliner's emotional life was unsuccessful, love could only bring disappointment and combat, and marriage only put more heavy yoke on people who were unable to get happiness. Psychological paralysis of Dubliners is the internal factor which caused moral paralysis. It is psychological paralysis which made Dublin into an unhealthy city and the formation of social psychology has a inseparable relationship with the environment. The complicated relationship between them has formed a vicious circle, Dubliners lived in this vicious circle and no one could shake off.3. Outstanding Artistic PracticesTo show the theme of moral paralysis, Joyce's used of a lot of delicate art practices, in which the most representative ones are epiphany and symbol. Epiphany is a unique artistic skill which Joyce used boldly in Dubliners and highlighted the theme. The epiphany of the hero is a display of moral paralysis of Dubliners; Joyce used a large number of symbols. Almost everything and every sentence in the novel contains a profound symbolic significance, and perfectly echoes the theme of the novel. Symbolism is widely used in Joyce's later works, and adds Joyce's works unlimited artistic charm and has also made him an outstanding representative of modernists.