Dubliners
Literature is constantly showing its readers aspects of people and societies that would notnormally be shown to the public. The various aspects of society that writers choose tofocus on are done for a reason. Whether or not it is a positive or negative aspect ofsociety doesn't hold any significance. The only thing that matters in society is why writerschoose to focus on the subjects that they do. Most writers are trying to push their readersfurther by challenging them with an aspect that the reader may overlook in everydaysituations. In his Dubliners, James Joyce uses the function of religion in society to showhow corruption has overtaken the Irish. Joyce portrays the immoral and corrupt role ofthe priests in society to show the hypocrisy behind the Irish Catholic Church, and all that Joyce's symbolism of the physical features and sexual connotations of the priestsin "The Sisters", "Ivy Day in the Committee Room", and in "Grace", provides readerswith an example of how deceiving these "honorable" religious figures truly are. In "TheSisters", Joyce describes the physical features of Father Flynn to show how othercharacters felt uncomfortable in his presence. It seems that Father
Thischaracteristic is completely hypocritical with the Irish Catholic Church. It is wrongful for a priest tosave his money all his life, when in reality a priest is supposed to be dedicated to thecommunity. Father Keon cannot be an active and positive member of the community ifhe has failed to help those in need of it He pretends to be holy and honorable, when infact he is as selfish and dishonorable as any common man is or woman may be. The "discoloured teeth" shows thatthe priest wasn't hygienic, when in reality priests are supposed to be purified andcleansed. It is surprising that such a holy man in society isportrayed as such a greedy, corrupt, and untrustworthy man. Flynn's company arealmost repelled to him: "When he smiled he used to uncover his big discoloured teeth andlet his tongue lie upon his lower lip a habit which had made me feel uneasy in thebeginning of our acquaintance before I knew him well" (13). People usuallycome to priests for forgiveness from sinning, but with Father Purdon, these people do notneed to ask for forgiveness because he "understands the temptations" that exist. However, Father Purdon's values donot comply with those stated above. Priests are supposed to abstain from the physical pleasures of life. Father Purdon doesn't teach this idea tohis congregation, which shows that his mind and beliefs are just as corrupt as those whocome to him for understanding are. The symbolism of the color yellow is used to expose the agitating truthbehind Father Keon's physical description. It is the lack ofactions that exist in Father Keon's life that show the irony in priesthood. The imagery and descriptions in "Araby" and "The Sisters" expose the immoralityand wrongs of religion in Ireland through Father Keon and Father Flynn. This quote shows theawkwardness of Father Flynn's physical appearance.
Common topics in this essay:
Father Keon,
Father Flynn's,
Father Flynn,
Father Keon's,
Father Purdon,
,
Father Purdon's,
Catholic Church,
Keon Joyce,
Committee Joyce,
father keon,
father flynn,
irish catholic church,
irish catholic,
catholic church,
color yellow,
father keon's,
symbolism color,
father flynn's,
father purdon,
symbolism color yellow,
keon father flynn,
father purdon's,
writers choose focus,
indulgent velvety voice,
|
Acceptance Essays
