Loneliness and Isolation as a Result of Spiritual Paralysis in Dublin
             James Joyce is arguably the most talented writer of prose in the English language to ever to put ink to paper. In 1914, he published his book of short stories, Dubliners, after many hassles from various publishers. There are many common themes connecting the fifteen stories of the book, however, we would be foolish to try and even mention them all. So, one of these many themes is loneliness and isolation. From the very first, there is a deep sense of loneliness and isolation in every story. Though Joyce groups all of his characters under the general title of Dubliners, it is hard to miss the situational irony in the fact that they feel no connection with the city or their fellow Dubliners. In fact, many of the characters wish to, or envy the people who have escaped Ireland. Several times Joyce asserts through omnipotent, third person narration that their loneliness is a result of a spiritual paralysis, having been shallowly indoctrinated by a simonic Irish Catholic Church.
             Maria, the main character in Clay, shows one example of this loneliness and isolation. Though she is of the same age as the other children in the story she is an outcast and has no real friends among her peers. In fact, many of her peers go out of their way to be callous towards her. For example the children in the story were playing a game by which they could supposedly tell the future by blindly choosing one of three objects: a bottle of water to signify emigration on a ship, a ring to signify marriage, and a book of prayers to signify a life of service to the Catholic Church. The atmosphere in the story implied that they did not want Maria there to begin with. When Maria's turn comes the other children add a fourth option clay to signify death. Maria ended the story by singing to the other children a classic Irish folk song. Instead of singing the whole song
             ...