A Mother by James Joyce is a short story based on the life of Mrs. Kearney, a strong-willed woman whose violation of convention results in the destruction of her acclaimed reputation. Joyce's linguistic use of naturalism, modernism and feminism exemplifies the “paralysis”[1] of Dublin's rigid social conventions. It further reiterates the gender divisions that existed. The abstract use of language gives the reader different interpretations of the story without revealing Joyce's intended meaning. However, it also adds a level of complexity for readers when analyzing simple character interactions or trying to understand the characters themselves. Despite this, it is clear that Joyce's use of the above linguistic styles is effective in making the reader's interpretation of the story their own. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Joyce's use of modernist techniques means that the language used is never absolute. His goal is to deconstruct previous writing styles, manipulating the normal narrative structures of stories. This means that the reader is prevented from making an immediate judgment on Mrs. Kearney until the end of the story. For example, Mrs. Kearney is initially described as a “Lady” – a title that evokes respect and good manners. Through this title she is free from the restrictions imposed on other women and allows herself privileges such as organizing the talent show. Yet, to obtain these privileges, it seems that Mrs. Kearney had to succumb to the patriarchal society of the time by getting married. Joyce describes this action as “silencing their [society] by marrying.” The use of such language makes it difficult for the reader to ascertain whether Mrs. Kearney is repressed in her identity as a woman or whether she has gained greater freedom in society through marriage. In helping the reader reach a balanced judgment about Mrs. Kearney, Joyce provides the reader with various examples for each of the above roles. In a sense, Mrs. Kearney has remained trapped in her role as “Mother”: she can no longer realize her dreams and must live vicariously through her daughter. In other ways, one could perhaps infer that she has been liberated, as she is able to take a more active role in society and at the same time gain the respect of the Committee (initially). This contrasts with the character Polly in The Boarding House, who is assigned only one identity – a mere sexual object – by her mother and Mr. Doran, because she is a woman. Unlike Mrs. Kearney, Polly does not have an option of “rights” and therefore submits to social conventions. However, Joyce shows Mrs. Kearney as obsessed with "claiming [her] rights", such that her passive-aggressive behavior ultimately leads to her downfall. Indeed, her unyielding nature and desire to achieve even small triumphs can be seen when she desperately orders Mr. Holohan "I'm not done with you yet." However, her attempt to free herself from the chains of female repression leads her to be represented as a person without "decency". This is similar to the story Clay, in which the character, Maria, ignores reality to appreciate the small (but significant) aspects of life. As such, what Joyce portrays is a woman who is unaware of how limited her rights as a woman are. Although Mrs. Kearney demands rights because she is a “Lady,” she is ultimately trapped in the sexist social order that has existed in Dublin for centuries. It is this contradictory view of Mrs. Kearney as