As the title implies, Dubliners examines the lives of people in Ireland’s capital, and Joyce provides ample geographical details. Since not all readers are familiar with Dublin, such details can be unfamiliar. What purpose, then, do these elements serve?
In much the same way, Langston Hughes writes about Harlem in a way that depicts the particular struggles of African-Americans that people who have never been there can easily understand.
In your journals...
During today's class, take some time to investigate the history of the city of Dublin.
Also, take a few minutes to research the history of Harlem.
Record some facts about both places in your journals that you believe would help any person understand the narrative of the stories we have read, so far. How are the two places similar? How are they different? Are you surprised by the amount of similarities between the two places? Can you give examples/quotes from each story that shows how they are similar?
