Maria has suffered a lifetime of disappointments but she never complains. The people around her love and respect her but they feel sad for her all the same, knowing she never got to follow big dreams, or even small domestic dreams like a love and family of her own. I don't think Maria is stupid or ignorant. She knows what she has missed out on, and is still missing out on. But she won't let herself fall into gloom, or be anything but happy. When she plays the blindfold game, she gets a lump of clay. It could be just clay, which might be a symbol of impending death. The family is mortified that the neighbor girl put that in there and refuses to acknowledge it because it would be mean to Maria. Maria knows what it is, but she's too polite to get upset about it. (It could also be something else yucky that a pet left in the garden, but if so, I think there would have been mention of cleaning her hand.) When she sings the song, she sings a song in two verses, but she sings the first one twice. She left out the one about suitors and romantic love. The story says "But no one tried to show her her mistake; and when she had ended her song Joe was very much moved." Joe starts to cry because he knows what part of the song Maria skipped, which echoes the part of her life that she skipped. Maria may have left it out on purpose because she didn't want to cry herself. Or maybe she left it out unconsciously because she has closed off such thoughts, knowing they would make her sad. Either way, both happiness and sadness are mixed in her person. _I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls, With vassals and serfs at my side, And of all who assembled within those walls, That I was the hope and the pride. I had riches too great to count, could boast Of a high ancestral name; But I also dreamt, which pleased me most, That you loved me still the same. I dreamt that suitors sought my hand, That knights upon bended knee, And with vows no maiden heart could withstand, They pledged their faith to me. And I dreamt that one of that noble host Came forth my hand to claim; But I also dreamt, which charmed me most, That you loved me still the same._
It is a pity. But Maria seems to have the kindest spirit of them all. Though that spirit might have just developed as an object to fill her hearts pit.
I think he really liked Maria. But felt bad for her all the same. She had a lot of happiness in her life, but it was always mixed with a sadness that she would never publicly acknowledge. I think we each know someone like that.
yeah the story made up to not be understood at first reading, u need to read it at least five times to understand maria's core as a representation of Ireland and the gentle colonel as a representative of English, the whole story illustrates the non-resistance of irish again the colonizer English. James refers that irish accepted being colonized and that's what pushed the writer to write this meaningful short story
I really like the way you sing "I dreamt that I dwelt".🙂
Clay is the best short story in Dubliners. Absolute gem. Love the readings of all the stories.
Thank you. You have a wonderful voice suited for reading Mr. James Joyce. Keep up the good work!!!
Good to hear an Irish voice reading Joyce.
Genius, and beautifully read.
Maria has suffered a lifetime of disappointments but she never complains. The people around her love and respect her but they feel sad for her all the same, knowing she never got to follow big dreams, or even small domestic dreams like a love and family of her own. I don't think Maria is stupid or ignorant. She knows what she has missed out on, and is still missing out on. But she won't let herself fall into gloom, or be anything but happy.
When she plays the blindfold game, she gets a lump of clay. It could be just clay, which might be a symbol of impending death. The family is mortified that the neighbor girl put that in there and refuses to acknowledge it because it would be mean to Maria. Maria knows what it is, but she's too polite to get upset about it. (It could also be something else yucky that a pet left in the garden, but if so, I think there would have been mention of cleaning her hand.)
When she sings the song, she sings a song in two verses, but she sings the first one twice. She left out the one about suitors and romantic love. The story says "But no one tried to show her her mistake; and when she had ended her song Joe was very much moved." Joe starts to cry because he knows what part of the song Maria skipped, which echoes the part of her life that she skipped. Maria may have left it out on purpose because she didn't want to cry herself. Or maybe she left it out unconsciously because she has closed off such thoughts, knowing they would make her sad. Either way, both happiness and sadness are mixed in her person.
_I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls,
With vassals and serfs at my side,
And of all who assembled within those walls,
That I was the hope and the pride.
I had riches too great to count, could boast
Of a high ancestral name;
But I also dreamt, which pleased me most,
That you loved me still the same.
I dreamt that suitors sought my hand,
That knights upon bended knee,
And with vows no maiden heart could withstand,
They pledged their faith to me.
And I dreamt that one of that noble host
Came forth my hand to claim;
But I also dreamt, which charmed me most,
That you loved me still the same._
It is a pity. But Maria seems to have the kindest spirit of them all. Though that spirit might have just developed as an object to fill her hearts pit.
This short story is incredibly sad, and I don't know why -maybe because James Joyce had no mercy for his characters...
I think he really liked Maria. But felt bad for her all the same. She had a lot of happiness in her life, but it was always mixed with a sadness that she would never publicly acknowledge. I think we each know someone like that.
I love everything Irish
I liked the character of Maria but I don't think I understood the ending :-\
yeah the story made up to not be understood at first reading, u need to read it at least five times to understand maria's core as a representation of Ireland and the gentle colonel as a representative of English,
the whole story illustrates the non-resistance of irish again the colonizer English. James refers that irish accepted being colonized and that's what pushed the writer to write this meaningful short story
now that's an overstretched interpretation.
I don’t think I understood the ending either,even after listening a few times ? ? 🤷🏽♂️
سلام خوتي شي واحد يشرح لينا هاد العجب راه مفهمنا فيه تا وزة
و الى كان البروف ديالك عطيكم هاد القصة حتا نتوما خبط جيم
^^
وقت الامتحانات دبا يا ويلي. عندنا هادي حتا حنا😂
@@parksori2708 عندك شي خلاصة بالعربية ؟
@@peterkim9696 لا انا راجعتها بالإنجليزية و لخصتها بالانجليزية
تا حنا يلاه غنقراوها
@@ibtissam1236 Ta ana 😂😢
ty