THEMES AND IDEAS IN THE SHORT STORIES OF JAMES JOYCE AND VIRGINIA WOOLF -A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Abstract
This article explores the thematic and ideological depth of the short stories of James Joyce and Virginia Woolf two major figures of literary modernism. Through a comparative analysis, the paper examines how each author addresses the complexities of the human mind, time, perception, and social constraints. Joyce’s themes of paralysis, epiphany, and emotional isolation are contrasted with Woolf’s focus on subjective reality, gender, and the fluidity of time. The article concludes that despite their differing narrative techniques, both authors fundamentally altered the landscape of modern fiction by prioritizing the inner experience over external action.
References
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6. Bowlby, Rachel. Virginia Woolf: Feminist Destinations. Oxford: Blackwell, 1988.
7. Attridge, Derek. The Cambridge Companion to James Joyce. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
