Though now considered a masterpiece, its delayed publication altered its public reception. The delay was due to concern about the frank sexual content (which, by today's standards, is quite mild) and some of the charged political and social issues addressed in the collection.ĭubliners is the first-born of Joyce's central canon (Dubliners, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Ulysses, Finnegan's Wake). Although the stories were powerful, revolutionary work, Dubliners was not published until 1914. Delays in publishing gave Joyce ample time to add three accomplished stories over the next two years: "Two Gallants," "A Little Cloud," and "The Dead" were added later. Gallaher has achieved financial and career success, but his personal flaws have only grown worse in his time abroad, and he lacks the self-awareness to perceive any need for improvement.In 1905, the young James Joyce, then only twenty-three years old, sent a manuscript of twelve short stories to an English publisher. Moreover, Gallaher’s characterization shows that while Dublin may hinder one’s prospects (as Little Chandler believes the city has done for him), emigration may hold out a false hope for personal growth and reinvention.
The contrast between the two makes Little Chandler more conscious of his own limitations in life. Little Chandler is left feeling resentful of Gallaher’s success and freedom. Gallaher shows no signs of changing his lifestyle, remarking that he does not plan to settle down and start a family-unless he were to marry for money. Moreover, his travels seem primarily to have allowed him to indulge in petty vices and sensual pleasures.
While Gallaher does appear successful, he is also prematurely aged, coarse, and vulgar. However, when the pair meet at a fancy restaurant to catch up, Little Chandler’s expectations are not fully met. For Little Chandler, Gallaher represents everything missing from his own life: an engaging personality, career success, cosmopolitan experiences, and personal freedom. Moreover, he has been able to travel widely throughout Europe, experiencing the pleasures of Paris in particular. During Gallaher’s time away, he has made the most of these attributes and achieved success as a journalist for the London Press. Despite these flaws, he possessed undeniable talent and charisma.
It’s rumored that Gallaher left Dublin because of money troubles brought on by his careless, alcohol-ridden lifestyle. A native Dubliner, he immigrated to London eight years before the story takes place and is now back for a visit. Ignatius Gallaher is an old friend of Little Chandler.
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