都柏林人的真实与幻象

Joyces exceptional acuity and sensitivity are not only evident in his mind but also in his writing. His portrayal of male characters is particularly intriguing to me as a female reader, often leaving me both enlightened and amazed.

In "The Sisters," the priest is depicted as impoverished, lonely, and criticized, yet he possesses a humorous and at times even silly disposition. The sisters care for him is not as smooth, beautiful, or perfect as it seems to the people of Dublin. Only "I" am privy to the truth behind this purported dignity.

In "An Encounter," the truant boy meets a teacher who is eccentric and always subtly praises my companion, Murphy, in front of me, calling him sunny and robust. The teacher speaks gloriously of young love and then threatens to beat the truant child when they are alone. This speech shatters my beautiful imagination of adventure.

In "Araby," the bustling market is now quiet, the huge and sacred space echoes with the sound of coins, and the waitress jokes with the two men, revealing a desire-filled relationship between the sexes. In short, this is the truth about the world, and my infatuation with Mangans sister is nothing but a delusion. I am pained by the sight of the truth and angry at myself for believing in the illusion.