Grace | Grace

At a glance:

Author: James Joyce
First Published: 1914
Type of Plot: Social realism
Time of Work: The early 1900's
Setting: Dublin, Ireland
Principal Characters: Tom Kernan, Mrs. Kernan, Martin Cunningham, Mr. Power, Mr. M’Coy, Mr. Fogarty, Father Purdon
Genres: Social realism, Short fiction
Subjects: Restaurants, bars, taverns, or pubs, Religion, Alcoholism or alcoholics, Substance abuse, Accidents, Drinking or drunkenness, Ambition, Catholics or Catholic Church, Ireland or Irish people, Monasteries, monks, or monasticism, Convents or nunneries, Jesuits
Locales: Dublin, Ireland

An unconscious man is found in the lavatory of a Dublin bar. He has hurt himself in a fall and will discover that he has bitten off the tip of his tongue. After being helped to his feet by strangers, the man—who is named Tom Kernan—is assisted home by a friend, Mr. Power, and put straight to bed. Later, as Power and Kernan's wife discuss Kernan's condition, they decide to enlist his friends in an effort to reform him. “We’ll make a new man of him,” Power assures Mrs. Kernan.

Grace | Grace

At a glance:

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