Resignation vs. Empowerment
Many stories in Dubliners feature characters whose dreams have been thwarted—whether because of happenstance, social obligations, or their own personal limitations, Joyce’s characters are often frustrated by their limited lives. Little Chandler, the protagonist of “A Little Cloud,” is no exception. He is portrayed as a timid man with a small life, and at the beginning of the story, he seems resigned to his fate. However, a visit from his old friend Gallaher…
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The Illusions of Success
In many of the stories in Dubliners, Joyce portrays Dublin, Ireland as excessively conventional, morally strict, and provincial. After growing dissatisfied with his birthplace, Joyce himself left Dublin early in his life and spent the majority of his years as an expatriate in continental Europe. Like Joyce, Gallaher is an émigré and thus represents an image of success and sophistication for Little Chandler, who is stuck in Dublin. However, their meeting deflates Chandler’s…
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The Prison of the Mundane
Gallaher’s career success suggests to Little Chandler that he, too, could achieve more in life if he could only escape the limitations of Dublin. However, upon meeting Gallaher, Chandler’s bubble of expectation is burst. No longer a role model for success, Gallaher instead fuels Chandler’s disappointment and causes him to grow resentful. Reconnecting with Gallaher doesn’t end up inspiring Chandler to pursue poetry or leave Dublin in the pursuit of greater opportunities. Instead, their…
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