Symbolism, And Tone In James Joyce's Dubliners

Dubliners is a collection of short stories by James Joyce, that do not relate to each other, but all share a similar tone. These short stories reflect the early living of the 1900’s in Dublin. This is shown through characters’ individual hardships, epiphanies, and class struggle. Joyce’s depressing life is thoroughly projected into his work. Symbolism, metaphor, and tone are all used to get his ideas and lessons across. These stories contain metaphor and tone, and when applying a biographical lens, it can be interpreted that his tone is attributed to his depressing life. When applying a biographical and a formalist lens, the depressing tone of his writing is more understood. Through metaphor and tone, Joyce symbolizes the dark and truthful

Eveline features yet another story about a rather depressing life of a woman. Eveline spends her time fulfilling a promise she made to her dead mother, taking care of her drunk father. She takes care of her drunk, and once abusive father, all while spending time with “Frank”, the one man that gives her a piece of happiness in life. Frank offers Eveline is torn between taking care of her father, and remaining unhappy, or going off with Frank and achieving the true bliss she has always longed for. As the story comes to an end, she meets Frank, and is about to go off with him and fill her desire. Frank is calling her name over and over and Eveline’s mind races. She is still torn. She eventually decides to remain in her sad trap that is taking care of her father. She realizes she made a promise to her mother, and she wants to keep her word. Joyce continues to use his depressing tone to get his symbolization across. Eveline gives symbols of selflessness, or the idea of keeping one’s word, through Eveline’s actions.
With metaphor and tone, Joyce’s symbolism is broadcasted. Joyce's dismal style of writing continues to help with his ideas and messages and does so throughout the entire novel. Clay and Eveline are two prime examples of his gloomy conventions and distressing stories. Both of these short stories are just further depiction of his ideas and messages that Joyce gets across through depressing