... however, distract him from the central theme running through all fifteen stories in the collection: the theme of paralysis. This theme of paralysis was what Joyce saw as "failed religion, spiritual paralysis, letter without spirit, ritual without efficacy generally attributed to Irish Catholicism" (Lodge, 1977:129). This same theme he also applied ... probably never experience such a love as this, and always will be "playing second fiddle" to the true love of Gretta's life. It has even been said that the final scene of the snow falling upon Michael's grave, with its imagery of crosses a...

• Word Count: 2387
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate