Comparing The Sisters, An Encounter, and Araby :: comparison compare contrast essays

The Sisters, An Encounter, Araby Themes, Symbolism, and Change The short stories collected in Dubliners be mostly predecessors and characterizations of James Joyces later works. The Sisters is no different. It, along with An Encounter and Araby, are drawn from Joyces personal memories and sentiments. The young boy and the characteristics of these short stories are an indirect sampling of Joyces next published work, Portrait of the Artist as a teenaged Man, a novel mostly written from his own memory. The Sisters, by James Joyce, is a story that mingles unworldly associations with an aim to teach with realistic endeavor, revealing truths of animation and death. This short story revolves around a young boys struggle to affirm and rationalize the death and lunacy of an important figure in his life. The narrator arrives foot to find that Father James Flynn, a confidant and informal educator of his, has just passed away, which is no surprise, for he had been paralyzed from a stroke for some time. Mr. Cotter, a friend of the family, and his uncle have much to say about the poor old priest and the narrators relationship with him. The narrator is angered by their belief that hes not able, at his young age, to guard his own decisions as to his acquaintances and he should run about and play with young lads of his own age ... That night, images of death haunt him he attempts make light of the tormenting face of the deceased priest by smiling feebly in hopes of negating his dreadful visions. The following evening, his family visits the house of the old priest and his both caretakers, two sisters, where he lies in wake. There the narrator must try and rationalize his death and the mystery of his preceding insanity. The title of The Sisters is in one instance a simple title, but it may also indicate a greater, more expressive intent. First, on a mundane level, the title The Sisters signifies the two sisters, Nannie and Eliza, who have interpreted care of the priest in his illness and have helped to arrange the formalities of his passing -- embalmment and documents of burial and insurance. The two sisters give sentiments of Father Flynn about the occurence in the months preceding to his passing, helping to explain his stricken condition, always repeating, Ah, poor James Secondly, on a more significant and symbolic level, the title may connotate the relationship of insanity to death of that of the close relationship between sisters.