Feminist Interpretation of “The Other” Image in The Sisters

Abstract

The Sisters is the beginning of The Dubliners and has attracted the attention of scholars at home and abroad since its publication. And in this article that explores Dublin’s life, Joyce also shows us a rich female world. Therefore, this article will begin with the female “others” and analyze Joyce’s feminist point of view.

In the first part, Joyce reveals the status of women as “others” image, which reflects the social phenomenon in the Ireland that is unfair treatment and disregard for women. However it is such women’s “others” voice as the master that tells the reader the storyline. This article intends to use feminist theory to interpret the “others” image in The Sisters in order to interpret the narrow living space of Dublin women, their relationship with the patriarchal society and their unexpected sounds.

The paper will demonstrate the author’s female “others” viewpoint from four aspects. The first part of the author will start with basic theoretical knowledge and explain to readers the basic connotation of the “others” theory from the perspective of feminism; the second part will elaborate on the aunt and sister of The Sisters from both religious and patriarchal society. The third part will analyze the embodiment of the female “others” with Joyce’s satire in the text; finally the last part will conclude that Joyce satirized and criticized the status of women as “others” in Irish society.

Key Words: The Sisters; Dubliners; Feminist; “The Others”; Irony