An Analysis Of Initiation Theme In Dubliners

As a typical modernistic novelist,ever since James Joyce began to show his talents in literary circles,discussions relating to himself and his works never quiet down.After 1940 s,researches on his works emerges thick and fast,he became the focus in literary circles both at home and abroad.Studies of James Joyce develop steadily and fast.Joyce's works are never easy to understand,his fame owes both to his talents and his unintelligibility.Compared with Ulysses,an erudite book lies on hundreds of classics,and the literary giant Finnegans Wake,the short story collection,Dubliners seems much more lucid both in technique and motif.In spite of this,as a book which gives James Joyce a chance to enter in literary shrine,researchers and readers could still need more attention on it.Different from other short story collections which have relatively loose structure and independent stories,Dubliners was conceived as an indivisible whole since the start of its writing,it selected materials and completed in the sequence of “childhood,adolescence,adulthood and public living”.Such a distinctive feature provides foundation for this thesis.In Dubliners,James Joyce not only vividly portrays the mental development and maturity of Irish people from all walks of life,but also depicts mentally mature process of his ideal hero as one single person.However,Joyce's work not only applies to Irish people,but also be suitable for those who suffer from colonialism both physically and mentally all through the world.Therefore,this thesis analyzes Dubliners from the perspective of initiation theme,analyzes its connotation and tries to dig out both theoretical and practical significance of initiation theme.This paper includes three parts: introduction,main body and conclusion.The main content of this thesis is as below:The first part of this paper is introduction.This part gives a general introduction to James Joyce,his lifetime,his unique writing techniques and his accomplishments;the background of Dubliners;the possibility of this thesis' analysis from initiation theme's angle based on comprehensive reviews of different researches on Dubliners.In recent years,during the research course of James Joyce and his works,famous scholars no matter in or out of our country point out,Dubliners could be one of Joyce's most important work that was neglected for so long and it should never be inferior to Ulysses.In spite of this,most of Joyce's works are related to “initiation” directly or indirectly and the practical study of initiation story should be expended to more different literature genres and perspectives.Therefore,analysis of initiation theme in Dubliner has the theoretical meaning.The second part is the main body of this paper,three chapters form the emphasis of the whole thesis.The first chapter introduces the theory this paper cited.On one hand,a definition was given to traditional initiation story and its chief characteristics were clarified.On the other hand,this part also illustrates the inheritance and development of traditional initiation story in James Joyce's works.After comprehensively reviewed different definitions of initiation story,this paper uses Mordecai Marcus' definition.Briefly speaking,the initiation story usually has a motif of telling someone's “initiation process”.And in general,initiation story has several distinctive features: its theme must be someone's initiation;the initiation process must be experienced by the hero himself or heroine herself;the story has relatively fixed narrative models;epiphany must be included to mark “being mature”.The elucidation of initiation theme in Joyce's work not merely includes features of traditional initiation story,but also adds in Joyce's innovation: the pioneering using of epiphany,neutral and indifferent narrative attitude,inner monologue and special language style.The second chapter primarily describes the reflection of initiation theme in Dubliners,it focuses on the analysis of initiation theme's connotation.Firstly,this paper figures out from what aspects shows the “initiation process” of Dubliners in the book.Besides,one of the subject of this short story collection is “initiation”.The mental mature of hero and heroine was reflected through gradual or forced acceptance of cruel Irish reality and new recognition of national identity.Secondly,this paper elucidates that there are two ways to achieve “initiation”: runaway and epiphany.Runaway provides chances for hero and heroine to meet differences and to experience,and epiphany could be the more direct way to lead to maturity since new or shocking recognition usually comes from epiphany.At last,the chapter gives a conclusion about four reasons that affect initiation: pervasive social paralysis in Dublin;lack of faith due to death of religion;lack of mentor and award position of one's unable to love.The third chapter discusses the practical significance of analyzing initiation theme in Dubliners.Dubliners is the most vivid and straightforward reflection of Ireland's moral history.The epiphany and mental initiation of Irish people in this book apply to other countries as well.What's more prominent,educational issues concerning adolescence in “childhood” part in the collection need more attention and deep research.Therefore,analysis of initiation theme in this book has a referential meaning to modern adolescence education.Due to the unique national conditions and cultural background in James Joyce's time,his cultural anxiety,recognition and love to national culture are expressed without reservation through this book,this affection also plays a positive role in the acceptance and rejuvenation of our own national culture.The last part of this paper is conclusion.Conclusion is the systematic summary of the whole paper.It points out the theoretical significance of enriching the theory of initiation story study and the aesthetic meaning of providing totally new angles to appreciate and understand James Joyce's works.What's more,the last part also includes defects and aspects that need improvement in this thesis.In the end,Dubliners contains the two most valuable and vital issues of adolescence education and national culture rejuvenation,so consistent energy and research should be put on this short story collection.