Estimated read time: 12 min read
Table of Contents
- List of Characters in *Dubliners*
- Role Identification and Character Descriptions
- Character Traits
- Character Backgrounds
- Character Arcs
- Relationships
- In-Depth Character Analysis
- Overarching Themes and Character Dynamics
- Character Relationships and Social Structures
- Conclusion: The Human Condition in *Dubliners*
List of Characters in Dubliners
| Character Name | Story Appears In | Role/Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Eveline | "Eveline" | Protagonist, conflicted daughter |
| Gabriel Conroy | "The Dead" | Main character, husband, nephew |
| Gretta Conroy | "The Dead" | Gabriel’s wife |
| Michael Furey | "The Dead" | Gretta’s former lover |
| Little Chandler | "A Little Cloud" | Protagonist, aspiring poet |
| Ignatius Gallaher | "A Little Cloud" | Chandler’s friend, journalist |
| Farrington | "Counterparts" | Protagonist, office clerk |
| Mr. Doran | "The Boarding House" | Protagonist, boarder |
| Polly Mooney | "The Boarding House" | Mrs. Mooney’s daughter |
| Mrs. Mooney | "The Boarding House" | Boarding house owner, Polly’s mother |
| The Narrator | "Araby" | Young boy, protagonist |
| Mangan’s sister | "Araby" | Object of narrator’s affection |
| Old Cotter | "The Sisters" | Family friend, commentator |
| Father Flynn | "The Sisters" | Deceased priest |
| Maria | "Clay" | Protagonist, spinster |
| Joe Donnelly | "Clay" | Maria’s friend |
| Lenehan | "Two Gallants" | One of the two gallants |
| Corley | "Two Gallants" | One of the two gallants |
| Mrs. Kearney | "A Mother" | Protagonist, ambitious mother |
| Kathleen Kearney | "A Mother" | Mrs. Kearney’s daughter |
| Mr. Alleyne | "Counterparts" | Farrington’s boss |
Role Identification and Character Descriptions
Dubliners is a collection of fifteen short stories, each focusing on different characters. The stories collectively portray the everyday lives, frustrations, and small epiphanies of Dublin’s residents in the early twentieth century. Characters often struggle with paralysis—emotional, social, or psychological.
Main Protagonists
| Name | Description | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Eveline | Young woman torn between duty to family and desire for freedom. | Central figure in "Eveline." |
| Gabriel Conroy | Educated, socially conscious man; experiences self-doubt and revelation. | Main character in "The Dead." |
| Little Chandler | Shy, dreamy clerk, aspires to be a poet but is trapped by family and mediocrity. | Protagonist of "A Little Cloud." |
| Farrington | Frustrated, alcoholic office worker who vents anger on his son. | Main character in "Counterparts." |
| The Narrator | Sensitive, imaginative boy obsessed with his friend’s sister. | Protagonist in "Araby." |
| Maria | Kind but lonely spinster, works in laundry, faces isolation. | Lead character in "Clay." |
| Mrs. Mooney | Determined, practical boarding house owner, manipulates daughter’s marriage. | Central in "The Boarding House." |
Supporting Characters
| Name | Description | Relationship/Role |
|---|---|---|
| Gretta Conroy | Beautiful, melancholic woman haunted by past love. | Gabriel’s wife in "The Dead." |
| Michael Furey | Gretta’s passionate, deceased lover from her youth. | Haunts Gretta’s memories. |
| Ignatius Gallaher | Worldly friend, represents success and the road not taken. | Chandler’s friend in "A Little Cloud." |
| Polly Mooney | Young woman manipulated into engagement by her mother. | Daughter in "The Boarding House." |
| Mangan’s sister | Unnamed, serves as inspiration for narrator’s quest. | Narrator’s crush in "Araby." |
| Old Cotter | Outspoken, conservative family friend, provides background and judgment. | Appears in "The Sisters." |
| Father Flynn | Troubled, possibly corrupt priest, central to narrator’s loss of innocence. | Deceased in "The Sisters." |
| Joe Donnelly | Friendly, supportive, but hints at deeper dissatisfaction. | Maria’s companion in "Clay." |
| Lenehan | Cynical, self-loathing, drifts without purpose. | One of the “gallants.” |
| Corley | Manipulative, uses women for personal gain. | Lenehan’s companion in "Two Gallants." |
| Mrs. Kearney | Socially ambitious, forceful, tries to secure daughter’s future. | Protagonist in "A Mother." |
| Kathleen Kearney | Shy, talented pianist, subject to mother’s ambitions. | Mrs. Kearney’s daughter. |
| Mr. Alleyne | Overbearing, unsympathetic employer, frustrates Farrington. | Farrington’s boss. |
Character Traits
| Character | Key Traits | Evidence from Text |
|---|---|---|
| Eveline | Dutiful, passive, fearful | Unable to leave family, paralyzed by indecision. |
| Gabriel Conroy | Educated, insecure, self-absorbed | Overthinks social situations, doubts his marriage. |
| Gretta Conroy | Nostalgic, emotionally complex | Moved by memories of Michael Furey. |
| Little Chandler | Dreamy, timid, dissatisfied | Fantasizes about poetry but lacks resolve. |
| Farrington | Angry, resentful, self-destructive | Drinks to escape, lashes out at son. |
| The Narrator ("Araby") | Romantic, naive, idealistic | Embarks on quest for Mangan’s sister. |
| Maria | Gentle, lonely, overlooked | Kind but ignored, symbol of Dublin’s isolation. |
| Mrs. Mooney | Calculating, practical, shrewd | Engineers daughter’s engagement. |
| Ignatius Gallaher | Boastful, worldly, cynical | Brags about success abroad. |
| Lenehan | Parasitic, pessimistic, anxious | Relies on Corley, worries about future. |
| Corley | Manipulative, brash, unscrupulous | Exploits servant girl for money. |
| Mrs. Kearney | Ambitious, stubborn, proud | Insists on payment for daughter. |
Character Backgrounds
Eveline
Eveline is a young woman living with her abusive father after her mother’s death. She works a menial job to support her younger siblings. Her childhood was marked by hardship and broken promises. She is presented with an opportunity to escape with Frank, a sailor. However, her sense of duty and fear of the unknown keep her rooted in place.
Gabriel Conroy
Gabriel is a university-educated teacher and literary reviewer. He is well-read and aspires to be sophisticated, but often feels alienated from his Irish family and friends. Gabriel is married to Gretta, but their relationship is emotionally distant. His self-image is challenged during the annual Christmas party and later shattered by Gretta’s confession about Michael Furey.
Little Chandler
Little Chandler is a timid clerk with literary ambitions. He is married with a child and feels trapped by his domestic life and lack of artistic success. His meeting with Gallaher, an old friend who has found success in London, intensifies his dissatisfaction.
Farrington
Farrington is a middle-aged copying clerk, frustrated by his monotonous job and lack of respect from his superiors. He drinks heavily and vents his anger at home, particularly towards his son. Farrington’s story reveals the cycle of frustration and abuse.
The Narrator of "Araby"
A young boy living with his aunt and uncle, he develops a crush on Mangan’s sister. He promises to bring her a gift from the Araby bazaar, only to be disappointed by the experience and his own naivety.
Maria
Maria is a middle-aged spinster who works in a laundry. She is respected for her kindness but is largely alone. Her visit to the Donnelly household for Halloween highlights her isolation and the small kindnesses that comprise her life.
Mrs. Mooney
Mrs. Mooney, a determined widow, runs a boarding house. She carefully orchestrates her daughter Polly’s relationship with Mr. Doran to secure a respectable marriage, demonstrating her practical approach to social and economic advancement.
Character Arcs
| Character | Starting Point | Key Development/Turning Point | Resolution/End State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eveline | Trapped by duty and fear | Plans to escape with Frank | Paralyzed, unable to leave |
| Gabriel Conroy | Confident, self-absorbed | Humbled by Gretta’s revelation | Achieves self-awareness, questions self |
| Little Chandler | Hopeful for artistic future | Disillusioned by Gallaher’s success | Accepts his limitations, feels despair |
| Farrington | Frustrated worker and father | Humiliated at work and in public | Abuses son, cycle of anger continues |
| Narrator ("Araby") | Innocent, romantic, optimistic | Disillusioned by bazaar experience | Faces harsh reality, loses innocence |
| Maria | Content, lonely, optimistic | Omitted from Halloween game, ignored | Returns alone, life unchanged |
| Mrs. Mooney | Calculating matriarch | Manipulates Mr. Doran into engagement | Secures daughter’s future |
Relationships
Family Ties
| Character | Family/Relationship | Nature of Relationship | Impact on Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eveline | Father, deceased mother | Abusive, controlling, source of guilt | Prevents Eveline from leaving |
| Gabriel Conroy | Gretta (wife), aunts | Distant, emotionally complicated | Gretta’s revelation shakes Gabriel |
| Little Chandler | Wife, infant child | Domestic responsibilities, stifling | Feels trapped, longs for escape |
| Mrs. Mooney | Polly (daughter) | Manipulative, protective | Pushes Polly into marriage |
| Farrington | Wife, son | Neglected, abusive | Perpetuates cycle of frustration |
Friendship and Social Circles
| Character | Friend/Peer | Nature of Relationship | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Chandler | Ignatius Gallaher | Envy, admiration, disappointment | Realizes his own limitations |
| Lenehan & Corley | Each other | Co-dependence, mutual exploitation | Reinforces their moral stagnation |
| Gabriel Conroy | Party guests, colleagues | Social awkwardness, intellectual distance | Feels isolated, misunderstood |
Romantic Attachments
| Character | Love Interest | Nature of Relationship | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eveline | Frank (suitor) | Hopeful, escapist | Eveline cannot bring herself to leave |
| Gretta Conroy | Michael Furey (past), Gabriel (husband) | Nostalgic, emotionally complex | Gretta mourns past love, Gabriel feels inadequate |
| The Narrator ("Araby") | Mangan’s sister | Idealized, unrequited | Disillusioned by reality |
| Polly Mooney | Mr. Doran | Manipulated romance | Forced engagement orchestrated by Mrs. Mooney |
In-Depth Character Analysis
Eveline: The Paralysis of Duty
Eveline embodies the theme of paralysis that pervades Dubliners. She is torn between the promise to her dying mother to keep the family together and the hope of a new life with Frank. Her inability to act stems from fear, ingrained guilt, and the oppressive Catholic morality of early twentieth-century Ireland.
Joyce presents Eveline as passive; her decisions are shaped by others’ expectations rather than her own desires. Her sense of responsibility is so overwhelming that she is immobilized at the story’s end, unable to board the ship that would take her to a new life. Eveline’s arc is tragic—her moment of choice becomes a moment of paralysis.
Gabriel Conroy: Self-Reflection and Epiphany
Gabriel Conroy is perhaps the most complex character in Dubliners. He is educated and cosmopolitan, yet he feels isolated from his Irish roots and family. Throughout “The Dead,” Gabriel’s self-image is challenged by subtle social slights and anxieties about his marriage.
Gabriel’s journey culminates in an epiphanic moment when he learns of Gretta’s enduring love for Michael Furey. This revelation forces Gabriel to confront his own limitations, emotional distance, and the reality of love and loss. Unlike many characters in Dubliners, Gabriel achieves a degree of self-awareness, albeit tinged with melancholy.
Little Chandler: Dreams Deferred
Little Chandler’s story is one of unfulfilled dreams. He idolizes Gallaher’s adventurous life but is unable to take risks himself. His poetic ambitions remain fantasies, and his timid nature keeps him confined to a mundane existence. The encounter with Gallaher highlights Chandler’s envy and dissatisfaction, but he is unable to change. His story ends with a sense of despair and resignation.
Farrington: The Cycle of Frustration
Farrington represents the destructive effects of frustration and powerlessness. Humiliated at work and dismissed by his peers, he seeks solace in alcohol. His inability to assert control in public leads him to vent his anger at home, perpetuating a cycle of abuse. Farrington’s arc exposes the toxic consequences of institutional and personal failure.
The Narrator of "Araby": The Loss of Innocence
The young narrator of “Araby” experiences a painful rite of passage. His romantic quest for Mangan’s sister is crushed by the banal realities of adult life. The bazaar, once a symbol of exotic possibility, is revealed as disappointing and mundane. The narrator’s realization is a moment of disillusionment—the first step from innocence to experience.
Maria: The Kind Spinster
Maria is one of the most sympathetic characters in Dubliners. Her life is defined by small rituals and acts of kindness, but she is largely invisible to those around her. The Halloween party in “Clay” highlights her marginalization—she is left out of games and her gift is lost. Despite her loneliness, Maria maintains her gentle disposition.
Mrs. Mooney: The Pragmatic Matriarch
Mrs. Mooney is a formidable figure. Widowed and left to support her family, she runs her boarding house with strict discipline. Her manipulation of Polly’s relationship with Mr. Doran is calculated, ensuring her daughter’s security. Mrs. Mooney’s actions, though self-serving, are also a commentary on the limited options available to women in Dublin society.
Overarching Themes and Character Dynamics
Dubliners is unified by the theme of paralysis—a sense of being trapped by social conventions, family obligations, and personal fears. Characters often yearn for escape or transformation but are unable to act. Relationships are frequently marked by miscommunication, disappointment, and a longing for connection.
Joyce’s psychological realism is evident in his portrayal of ordinary lives. Characters are shaped by their environment—Dublin itself becomes a character, exerting a powerful influence over its inhabitants. The stories often end with epiphanies or moments of realization, but rarely with resolution or change.
Character Relationships and Social Structures
Family Dynamics
The family is both a source of support and oppression in Dubliners. Eveline’s loyalty to family holds her back. Gabriel’s relationship with his aunts and wife is marked by emotional distance. Farrington’s frustration boils over into violence at home, while Mrs. Mooney’s ambitions for Polly are motivated by maternal concern and social necessity.
Romantic Relationships
Romantic attachments are rarely fulfilling. Eveline’s love for Frank is overshadowed by fear. Gabriel’s marriage is revealed to be emotionally shallow. Maria and Little Chandler experience loneliness, while Polly is manipulated into a strategic engagement.
Friendships and Social Status
Friendships are often tinged with envy or exploitation. Little Chandler envies Gallaher’s success. Lenehan and Corley use each other for personal gain. Social status is a persistent concern—Gabriel’s insecurity, Mrs. Mooney’s pragmatism, and Farrington’s resentment all stem from their positions within Dublin society.
Conclusion: The Human Condition in Dubliners
Joyce’s Dubliners presents a panorama of characters, each grappling with the constraints of their environment and inner lives. The stories are linked by themes of paralysis, epiphany, and the quest for meaning. Through detailed character portraits, Joyce captures the complexities of identity, aspiration, and disappointment.
The characters in Dubliners are memorable for their authenticity. Their struggles are universal—caught between hope and resignation, desire and duty. Each story, and each character, contributes to Joyce’s enduring exploration of the human condition.