James Joyce: Developing Irish Identity – A Study of the Development of Postcolonial Irish Identity in the Novels of James Joyce

This book follows the increasing focus on Irish identity in Joyces major works of prose. This study traces the development of the idea of Ireland, the concept of Irishness, the formation of a national identity and the need to deconstruct a nationalistic self-conception of nation in Joyces work. Through close reading of Dubliners, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Stephen Hero and Ulysses, Joyce articulates the problems that colonialism poses to a nation-state that cannot create its identity autonomously. Furthermore, this reading uncovers Joyces conception of national identity as increasingly sophisticated and complicated after Irish independence was won. From here, Halloran argues that Joyce presents his readers with ideas and suggestions for the future of Ireland. As Irish studies become increasingly imbricated with postcolonial discourse, the need for re-examination of classic texts becomes necessary. This book provides a new approach for understanding the dramatic development of Joyces oeurve by providing a textual analysis guided by postcolonial theory.