... for a comedy. But there is nothing comic about Joyce's vision, for each of the three principal characters are trapped in a web of social expectations and constraints from which it proves impossible to escape. For example, society expects Mrs. Mooney to be the passive spouse in a patriarchal household. Even ... affair with Polly is revealed, Mr. Doran needs to marry the girl in order to preserve his own reputation and livelihood. Even though this story ends with the prospect of marriage, it is not a happy solution, for all three characters are trapped inside the narrow boxes of Dublin soc...

• Word Count: 2723
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

... epiphany can dramatically alter the human spirit in a matter of just a few seconds. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man tells the story of Stephen Dedalus, the main character of the novel. Growing up, Stephen goes through long phases of hedonism and deep religiosity. He eventually adopts a ... art. While he is dependent on his friends as listeners, he is also determined to create an independent existence, liberated from the expectations of friends and family. He becomes more and more determined to free himself from all limiting pressures, and eventually decides to leave Ireland ... s...

• Word Count: 4998
• Approx Pages: 20
• Grade Level: Undergraduate