First impressions from James Joyce's Dubliners

As we discussed in class last Friday, James Joyce's writing style can be 'sneaky'. His stories are descriptive in an attempt to engage ones mind in with the story. Some lines seem to fit in with the story, peering as a normal way to set the scene. Others have seemed to be unnecessary bits of information, steering away from the point of the story. Regardless to what these appear to be, most of these lines in the story serve a purpose for Joyce's deep underlying message about Ireland's past. I personally find this style of writing unique and impressive. To be able to write a story that is informative and entertaining is a true challenge. Another technique of Joyce's was the use of recurring themes, the most notable one being the theme of paralysis. The priest's physical downfalls as he battles old age, the strange man the boys encounter leading a life without morals or promising future, and a priest's demise, all focus on the paralysis of individuals and Ireland. I look forward to further picking apart Joyce's writing in the upcoming stories in Dubliners.