Since the Great Famine emigration has been a common choice in Ireland and therefore a major aspect of Irish life and literature, too - but how is this emigration portrayed in literary periods like the Irish Literary Revival? In answering this question this text will focus on the texts of two authors associated with the Irish Literary Revival, George Moore's Home Sickness and James Joyce's Little Cloud. In both stories an emigrant returns to “good old Ireland” and cannot avoid comparing it with the world he discovered beyond the emerald Island. In this way the reader gains insights into the motivations behind emigration and the emotions that are associated with it.
Table of Contents
1. Emigration, Escape or Exile? - Of Ingenious Prisoners and Lost Sons
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines how the theme of emigration is portrayed in literature associated with the Irish Literary Revival, specifically focusing on the tension between returning to one's roots and the desire to escape social constraints.
- The role of emigration as a common choice in Irish life and literature
- Comparative analysis of George Moore's "Home Sickness" and James Joyce's "Little Cloud"
- The psychological dichotomy of "inverse emigration" and the struggle for personal identity
- The perception of Ireland as a stagnant environment versus a place of potential recovery
- The correlation between the act of leaving and the successful development of the individual character
Excerpt from the Book
Emigration, Escape or Exile? - Of Ingenious Prisoners and Lost Sons
Since the Great Famine emigration has been a common choice in Ireland (Averill 31) and therefore a major aspect of Irish life and literature too - but how is this emigration portrayed in literary periods like the Irish Literary Revival? In answering this question this text will focus on the texts of two authors associated with the Irish Literary Revival, George Moore's Home Sickness and James Joyce's Little Cloud. In both stories an emigrant returns to “good old Ireland” and cannot avoid comparing it with the world he discovered beyond the emerald Island. In this way the reader gains insights into the motivations behind emigration and the emotions that are associated with it.
The protagonist of Home Sickness, James Bryden and his perspective of “inverse emigration” (Sheridan) is interesting to focus on, because he is able to simultaneously give a view from the inside and the outside. Initially, he tries to get away from the “long hours of work” (Moore 2000, 23) in America, which caused “a touch of blood-poisoning” (ibid.). When Bryden arrives, “he is in an overwrought, susceptible state“ (Averill 36) and is looking forward to seeing “how the people at home were getting on” (Moore 2000, 21). Soon after his arrival, he hears the story of Michael Scully. This man’s history is thought-provoking for Bryden and he considers embarking on a new chapter in his life and settling down in Ireland (Moore 2000, 22). He has a strong urge to return home permanently, suggesting that the protagonist can be described as an exiled son of Ireland, who finally comes back to the lap of Mother Éire to heal his wounds and start his Irish family.
Summary of Chapters
1. Emigration, Escape or Exile? - Of Ingenious Prisoners and Lost Sons: This chapter analyzes the recurring literary trope of the returning emigrant in the works of George Moore and James Joyce, illustrating how both authors depict the cultural and personal struggle of reconciling with one's Irish identity.
Keywords
Emigration, Irish Literary Revival, George Moore, James Joyce, Home Sickness, Little Cloud, Identity, Exile, Duncannon, Dublin, Nostalgia, Character Development, Stagnation, Paradox, Literature
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper explores the representation of emigration during the Irish Literary Revival, specifically analyzing how authors portrayed the complex motivations and emotional states of Irish emigrants returning to their homeland.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the conflict between individual identity and cultural heritage, the perception of Ireland as a stagnant or liberating space, and the necessity of departure for personal growth.
What is the main research objective?
The research aims to determine how George Moore and James Joyce use the narrative of the returning emigrant to critique the social and psychological limitations of turn-of-the-century Ireland.
Which scientific method is employed?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis approach, closely examining primary texts alongside existing academic criticism to contrast the protagonists' perceptions and outcomes.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body investigates the characters of James Bryden in "Home Sickness" and Ignatius Gallaher in "Little Cloud," evaluating their failed or successful attempts to reintegrate into Irish society and their ultimate decisions to remain abroad.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Central keywords include Emigration, Irish Literary Revival, Exile, Identity, Stagnation, and Personal Development.
How does James Bryden's experience in "Home Sickness" represent "inverse emigration"?
Bryden attempts a return from America to his native home, but his "inverse" perspective allows him to see Ireland from both the inside and the outside, leading to a profound sense of alienation rather than belonging.
In what way does the character of Ignatius Gallaher differ from the protagonist of "Home Sickness"?
Unlike the conflicted and ultimately disillusioned Bryden, Gallaher appears to have successfully navigated his personal development by embracing the world outside of Ireland, viewing his departure as a necessary escape from a "prison."
- Arbeit zitieren
- Niels Brause (Autor:in), 2012, Emigration, Escape or Exile? Of Ingenious Prisoners and Lost Sons, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/355559
