5. The Sisters, By James Joyce (1914)

5. The Sisters, By James Joyce (1914)

Rating: 7.5/10

When I first finished this story, I was quite confused and felt like "Did I read it right? Then why can't I understand?". Since I couldn't fully understand the story alone, I searched for some more information about The Sisters. 

I could find that the story is repeating and emphasizing the word 'paralysis'. I guessed that it would symbolize something related to the background of the story. Fortunately, I was right, and it symbolizes Irish society and culture from James Joyce's perspective. He thought that Irish society was paralyzed by the Roman Catholic Church-the corrupted one, and that Father Flynn represents it. As time pass, Father Flynn got weak, coming close to death, which means the church was losing its power and began to be paralyzed. Author emphasizes it again by the scene that Flynn dropped the Chalice, which plays a important role in Catholic rituals. 

Looking further of word 'paralysis', I think it not only apply to Father Flynn, but also to the others mourning his death. So paralysis in this story can extend to diseases of Duliners as a whole. As I said earlier, Joyce criticized Dubliners for not being able to escape paralysis due to political and religious constraints from England and Roman Catholic Church. So from Joyce's view, it shows that Dubliners in the early 20th century, who were both politically and religiously bound, as well as the boy who were isolated, having difficulty interpreting their disconnected and left out conversations shared by adults, are both paralyzed. I believe that Joyce wanted to tell the readers about his view throughout Dubliners starting with The Sisters. 

I changed my rate 6.5 -> 7.5 because when I first read the book I was disappointed by the vague description, but after I understood the book, I could see the author's hidden intention. (303)