Critical Reflection in James Joyce's The Dubliners

Søren Kierkegaard, 19^th century theologian and seminal existential philosopher, journalized that "all deep thought begins and ends in the attempt to grasp whatever touches one most immediately" ("Critical Reflection"). The practice of thinking critically about one's own actions and experiences, effectively seeing oneself as others do, is something in which people tend to engage only at times of crisis. When trapped in unbearable circumstances, human beings either blame others and refuse to consider their surroundings, or examine their own behavior and make the decision to change. James Joyce, one of the foremost raconteurs of human drama, spins perfect examples of critical reflection (or lack thereof) in his book The Dubliners.

In the opening story, "Two Sisters," a boy comes to terms with the death of an old priest who had been his mentor. At first Joyce tells us only that Father Flynn is ill, leaving us to divine that he is infirm with old age - however, he soon leads us to suspect that there is something else at play. Among the boy's family is a sort of earthy philosopher, Old Cotter:

"No, I wouldn't say he was exactly... but there was something queer... there was something uncanny about him. I'll tell you my opinion...."

He began to puff at his pipe, no doubt arranging his opinion in his mind. Tiresome old fool! When we knew him first he used to be rather interesting, talking of faints and worms; but I soon grew tired of him and his endless stories about the distillery.

"I have my own theory about it," he said. "I think it was one of those ... peculiar cases .... But it's hard to say...." (Joyce 10).

Without using specific language to indicate of what he is speaking, Joyce clearly implies, through Old Cotter's ellipses, that Father Flynn had certain socially unacceptable proclivities. As the story unfolds, some of the women exchange gossip that leads to a slightly different idea of the priest's death. One recounts the story of how Father Flynn dropped the chalice in young James' presence, after which he began behaving strangely: