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Myth and identity in Joyce's fiction: disentangling the image. (James Joyce)

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From: Twentieth Century Literature
Date: 19940922
Author:O'Neill, William

James Joyce's novels are replete with his profound understanding of the role of myth in the development of identity and his disdain for the use of such myth to create fictional heroes that would glorify nationalistic aspirations. He did not agree with the romantic notion of heroism and believed that the Irish peasantry was not the best force to revive Celtic culture. Joyce aimed to separate mythical elements from human identity or at least point out that the latter is usually a result of the incorporation of the former.

The Literary Revival of turn-of-the-century Dublin was much concerned ...

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