Living with Hope A reflection on“The Dead”by James Joyce.docx

Living with Hope A reflection on“The Dead〞by James Joyce【Abstract】AsoneofthemostsignificantmasterpiecesofJamesJoyce，Thedeadhadaddressedtheauthorsconcernaboutthenationsawarenessoftreasuringitstraditionsandcoresocialvalues.Itcertainlyprovidedavariousimpactonreaderswithdifferentbackgroundandeducationalstatus.Thearticleisfocusingonapersonalreflectionwithtwoelaboratedparts：theproudandthehesitated：【KeyWords】Spiritual/SocialCrux；Traditions；SocialConsciousness；Epiphany【作者簡介】邵娟〔1985-〕，女，河南开封人，广州华立科技职业学院，硕士研究生，研究方向：高职院校教学和管理。

ThedeadareoftenconsideredtobeoneofJoycesbestnovella.SomesaythatinthisstoryJoycerevealedthespiritualcruxofIrishsocietyinhisdaysbydescribingpeoplesdailyandsociallife，tryingtowakeuppeoplesnationalconsciousness.Othersthinkitrevealedthementalprocessesoftheleadingcharacter：fullofillusion—theruinofillusion—anepiphany.Firstly，Gabrielhaddeliveredhisspeechwiththestrongsenseofprideofhisnation，whichwasexactlytheauthorwastryingtoaddress.Joycedeeplylovedhiscountry；hewasquiteproudofthetraditionsthehospitality，patriotism，benevolenceetc.However，hewasworried，anxious，insecurebecauseherealizedsomeexcellenttraditionsandqualitiesweregraduallydisappearing.Joycehadbeentryingtoawakeningpeoplesnationalconsciousness，arousetheirpatriotism，theirpotentiallyexistingpassionforlife，fortheirnationandsociety.Undoubtedly，whatevertimeswelive，whateversocialdesignationsweareholding，passionshouldbereservedforourcountry，ournation，justasJoycehasremindedus.Ialwaysbelievethatifabookisconsideredclassic，itmusthaveeitherenlighteningorinstructiveinfluenceonreallife，justasThedeaddid.Secondly，Joyceappearedtobepassive，hesitated，depressedtosomeextent.Greatthinkingisgenerallymorepainfulinthesoul，ashealwayshasaninsightintomoreproblems，cruxesinsociety.Joycedidseepeoplesspiritualactualsandsocialproblemsofhistimes，butwhathecoulddowiththecurrentstatus？TheAuthorhadanepiphanyatthelastpartofthestory，butIthinkitiscoveredwithpassivecolour.Joycefeltinsecure，confused，helplessanddepressed.Maybehesimplytriedtoremindpeopleaboutsomethingsincetherewaslittlethathecoulddo.Thirdly，Idliketoexpressmyopinionsonproblemsaccompanyingsocialdevelopmentandprogress.Eachagehasitsownproblemsanddefects，eitherinJoycesageorinmodernsociety.Almosteveryoneadmitsthatourmodernsocietyishighlyadvanced.Weownhightechnology，highlivingstandardandexcellentmedicalopportunities.However，wecantavoid“spiritualparalysis〞.Therapiddevelopmentofsocietyismoreliabletobringusemptiness，loneliness，depressionanddisillusionment.Weareundergoingstressesfromallareas：competeforbettereducation，betterjobs，andbetterlives.WhatIwouldliketoemphasizeisthatwearealwaysprogressingwhileallkindsofdifficultiesarearising.Weareblessedtohaveachanceoflivingintheworld.Whateveryouhaveexperienced，forgetunhappiness，darknessandmisfortune，justtreasureallthatwehaveowned.Lifeisalwaysfullofhope，onlyifyoubelieve.。