Dubliners

normally be shown to the public. The various aspects of society that writers choose to

focus on are done for a reason. Whether or not it is a positive or negative aspect of

society doesn't hold any significance. The only thing that matters in society is why writers

choose to focus on the subjects that they do. Most writers are trying to push their readers

further by challenging them with an aspect that the reader may overlook in everyday

situations. In his Dubliners, James Joyce uses the function of religion in society to show

how corruption has overtaken the Irish. Joyce portrays the immoral and corrupt role of

the 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 priests

in "The Sisters", "Ivy Day in the Committee Room", and in "Grace", provides readers

with an example of how deceiving these "honorable" religious figures truly are. In "The

Sisters", Joyce describes the physical features of Father Flynn to show how other

characters felt uncomfortable in his presence. It seems that Father

. . .
This quote shows the

awkwardness of Father Flynn's physical appearance. Joyce uses the color yellow to show how

corruption lies behind the holy facade that Father Keon holds. The corruption of money

seen in Father Flynn and Father Keon adds to the conviction that many of these holy men

in society aren't what they appear to be. This

characteristic is completely hypocritical with the Irish Catholic Church. It is wrongful for a priest to

save his money all his life, when in reality a priest is supposed to be dedicated to the

community. By not using the color white to describe

Father Keon, Joyce has indicated to his readers that the priest isn't one hundred percent

pure and holy. The "discoloured teeth" shows that

the priest wasn't hygienic, when in reality priests are supposed to be purified and

cleansed. Father Purdon doesn't teach this idea to

his congregation, which shows that his mind and beliefs are just as corrupt as those who

come to him for understanding are.

In "The Sisters", Joyce uses imagery and physical descriptions to expose the

corruption that lies with Father Flynn:

It may have been these constant showers of snuff which gave his ancient priestly

garments their green faded look for the red handkerchief, blackened, as it always

was, with the snuff-stains of a week, with which he tried to brush away the fallen

grains, was quite inefficacious (12). It is the lack of

actions that exist in Father Keon's life that show the irony in priesthood. Father Keon cannot be an active and positive member of the community if

he has failed to help those in need of it He pretends to be holy and honorable, when in

fact he is as selfish and dishonorable as any common man is or woman may be. Flynn's company are

almost repelled to him: "When he smiled he used to uncover his big discoloured teeth and

let his tongue lie upon his lower lip a habit which had made me feel uneasy in the

beginning of our acquaintance before I knew him well" (13). Father Purdon's decision to "understand the

temptations of this life" shows that corruption does exist in his church. He speaks in an "indulgent velvety voice", which allows the reader to

imagine the priest as almost seductive and deceitful. It is surprising that such a holy man in society is

portrayed as such a greedy, corrupt, and untrustworthy man.

Common topics in this essay:
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Approximate Word count = 1117
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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